Adina Heckelman Science of Criminology 1 The science of criminology a Major question Exam 1 chapters 1 3 4 11 i Is criminology a science 1 Everything states is in some sense debatable not firm facts 2 Yes some elemental notion that it is a science a Theory explains why something happens i Why do people break the law ii Conflict and consensus models assumptions see below b Has some confident findings i Methods policies that don t work at preventing eliminating crime c Methods of data and researching i Quantitative 1 Statistical analyses large scale 2 Look for patterns correlations consistencies ii Qualitative 1 Case studies look into background family history etc 2 Descriptions 3 3 No Relatively weak Interviews non numbers a Lack predictive power i Crime decline in 1991 1 Even after it happened can t figure out cause of decline no definitive reason why b The dependent variable that we are studying is the dark figure of crime really hard to test accurately i Don t even know what the DV is how can you say something causes what you don t even know 4 Problems in creating a science a What is crime i Definition is not fixed and unchanging it s not standard its dynamic ii Competing definitions 1 Legal definition a Nulla poen sine lege i No penalty without the law 2 Social harm a Problems loss of clarity victimless crime b The politicization of science i Science is commonly used to advance political claims 1 Racism sexism shovanism environmentalism global warming debate fascism a when debating which race sex etc is superior over another people use science to claim superiority 2 nearly every ism and all political groups attempt to claim the legitimacy of science 3 establishing facts is the key to winning debate 2 Definition of criminology a Edwin Sullivan father of criminology b Systematic study of i Creation process of making the law 1 Conflict Marx a Law tool of repression i Law is the reflection of ideology interest of ruling class b Not always fair distribution intended to keep those in power in power and repress the inferior 2 Consensus Derkheim c Not interested in the rules a Law will of the masses i Law reflects synthesis of values social norms tells you what is b Crime is good because it establishes moral boundaries the breaking of law why do people break the law framework set of explanations ii Crime 1 5 paradigms wrong a Rational choice i crime choice advantage 1 people choose to commit crime when it is in their ii laws help deter people from committing crime 1 choose to commit crime deter them b Positivism i crime compulsions 1 crime is a compulsion not a choice a people are good by then get forced pushed into crime due to some other force i e biological gender mental illness social class growing up in poverty ii laws help rehabilitate 1 compelled to commit fix them c Interactionism 1960 s i Crime result of labels criminal 2 Stigmatized labels causes more crime d Critical i Crime result of repressive laws 1 Behavior is labeled as criminal not necessarily inherently 1 Crime is a reflection of laws being used to repress inferior class e Integration newest i Recognition of A B and C D 1 Try and takes parts of everything into one big picture specifics of different paradigms to come into 1 2 General ideas a A B i State is GOOD consensus 1 State is preventing crime through deterrence and rehabilitation b C D i State is BAD conflict 1 State is creating crime through labels and repression c All paradigms will always exist and never disappear iii Punishment the reaction to the breaking of law c Involves politics causes debate into the political scene what influences our vote criminal justice inform policies an inherent judgment value i Law depends on how politicians define crime 1 What they do to prevent and react to crime ii What role does the field play is shaping policy 1 Not much negligible a In crime legislation criminologist are rarely consulted the victim is usually consulted 2 Should the field endorse policy solutions problem with applying the knowledge of criminologist a Ex The American society of criminology has issued a statement against capital punishment is this an ideological or scientific stance 3 Crime and the Law a Two justifications for law why create law i Mala in se 1 Wrong because it s evil inherently bad ii Mala prohibita 1 Wrong because its prohibited a Refers to many victimless crimes like drugs b Laws are constantly changing c Moral component i Value judgment laws reflect decision of government 4 Several proposed solutions to reducing crime that are discredited deemed inadequate and ineffective by criminologists and may even enhance crime a Proposed solutions i Boot camps ii Death penalty iii Three strike legislation 1 Habitual away for life after three penalties 1 Some evidence shows it enhanced drug use 1 Some evidence shows it has a reverse effect iv DARE v Scared straight vi Gun buy backs b Why do the still exist i Ideology 1 A set of beliefs and values that all of us develop usually unconsciously about the way the world is or ought to be 2 Shape policy through voting which is informed by ideology 3 Range of ideology a Conservative political right i Punitive and repressive b Liberal political left i Forgiving and rehabilitative 1 Doing something to those who cause harm punishment 1 About finding underlying problems that drive people to commit crime Measuring Crime catching the wind with a sieve 1 Research Methodology a Variables i Independent variable cause 1 Causes of what influences crime etc 2 Has to happen before the DV ii Dependent variable effect a Mental illness level of education background family of criminal 1 Outcome what are we attempting to explain a Why commit crime Punishment work 2 3 of people released from prison go back in Why how convict What IV s factors impact crime b Correlation and causation i Correlation 1 Two items are consistently related a Positive correlation i As one increase other increase ii As one decreases other decreases b Negative correlation i As one increase other decreases ii As one decrease other increases 2 does NOT imply causation the weather ii Causation 1 3 criteria needed to establish causality a Example just because I have an umbrella doesn t mean I control a Correlation i Necessary but insufficient alone b Temporal ordering i Independent variable must precede the dependent variable one has to happen before the other c Spuriousness must be eliminated i Spuriousness 1 Other variables other than the independent
View Full Document
Unlocking...