Adina HeckelmanExam 1 (chapters 1, 3, 4, 11) Science of Criminology 1) The science of criminologya) Major question: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) Quantitative1. Statistical analyses (large scale)2. Look for patterns, correlations, consistencies(ii) Qualitative1. Case studies (look into background, family history, etc)2. Descriptions3. Interviews- non numbers(3) No: Relatively weak(a) Lack predictive power(i) Crime decline in 19911. 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 definitions1. Legal definitiona. Nulla poen sine legei. No penalty without the law2. Social harma. Problems: loss of clarity, “victimless crime”b) The politicization of sciencei) 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 debate2) Definition of criminology a) Edwin Sullivan- father of criminologyb) Systematic study ofi) 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 (c) Not interested in the rules(2) Consensus- Derkheim (a) Law= will of the masses(i) Law reflects synthesis of values, social norms- tells you what is wrong(b) Crime is good because it establishes moral boundariesii) Crime - the breaking of law (why do people break the law)(1) 5 paradigms (framework/set of explanations)(a) Rational choice(i) crime=choice1. people choose to commit crime when it is in their advantage(ii) laws help deter people from committing crime1. choose to commit crime deter them(b) Positivism(i) crime=compulsions1. 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 rehabilitate1. compelled to commit fix them(c) Interactionism (1960’s)(i) Crime= result of labels1. Behavior is labeled as criminal, not necessarily/inherently criminal 2. Stigmatized labels causes more crime(d) Critical (i) Crime= result of repressive laws1. Crime is a reflection of laws being used to repress inferior class(e) Integration (newest)(i) Recognition of A&B and C&D1. 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 lawc) 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 crimeii) 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 drugsb) Laws are constantly changingc) Moral componenti) Value judgment, laws reflect decision of government4) Several proposed solutions to reducing crime that are discredited/ deemed “inadequate and ineffective” by criminologists (and may even enhance crime):a) Proposed solutionsi) Boot campsii) Death penaltyiii) Three- strike legislation(1) Habitual away for life after three penaltiesiv) DARE(1) Some evidence shows it enhanced drug usev) Scared straight(1) Some evidence shows it has a reverse effectvi) Gun buy backsb) 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 1. Doing something to those who cause harm- punishment(b) Liberal (political left)(i) Forgiving and rehabilitative1. About finding underlying problems that drive people to commit crimeMeasuring Crime- catching the wind with a sieve 1) Research Methodologya) Variablesi) Independent variable- cause(1) Causes of/ what influences crime(a) Mental illness, level of education, background, family of criminal, etc(2) Has to happen before the DVii) Dependent variable- effect (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(a) Example: just because I have an umbrella doesn’t mean I control the
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