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2. Crime and Theory (1)

The document discusses the definitions and complexities of crime, emphasizing that it cannot be attributed to a single cause and is influenced by various factors including individual, societal, and ecological elements. It outlines the importance of theories in understanding criminal behavior and shaping policies in the criminal justice system. Additionally, it highlights historical perspectives on crime causation from figures like Aristotle and Voltaire, and suggests an activity for analyzing current crime news.

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3 views17 pages

2. Crime and Theory (1)

The document discusses the definitions and complexities of crime, emphasizing that it cannot be attributed to a single cause and is influenced by various factors including individual, societal, and ecological elements. It outlines the importance of theories in understanding criminal behavior and shaping policies in the criminal justice system. Additionally, it highlights historical perspectives on crime causation from figures like Aristotle and Voltaire, and suggests an activity for analyzing current crime news.

Uploaded by

joana
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Crime: Its Concepts

CRIME
• LEGAL DEFINITION
• Acts or omission forbidden by law

• BEHAVIORAL DEFINITION
• Focuses on criminality; why crime was committed?
CRIME
• “There is no one “cause” of crime. Crime is highly
complex phenomenon that changes across cultures
and across time.”
• Crime does not evolve from any single source and
there are several reasons behind a person’s criminal
behavior.
Theory
• Series of statements that seek to understand and explain a
particular phenomenon.

• Significant in providing a clear and wider understanding of


criminal behavior.

• Provide framework in coming up with new policies in


response with crimes like the development of political and
social policies and treatment programs dealing with criminals
and their victims.
Theory

• In criminological perspective, theories help understand the working of


the criminal justice system and the actors in the system.
Crime as a Problem
A system perspective on
Crime
Criminal behavior

•Product of a systematic process that


involves complex interactions between
individual, societal, and ecological
factors over the course of our lives.
Ecological Factors
• Involves interactions between people and their activities in a physical
environment.

• It pertains to physical environment like geography and topography,


crowding, pollution, and recreational opportunities which influences
the physical and emotional development of people

• The routine activities of people in a physical setting can have


important effects on when and where opportunities for crime to
occur.
Societal/ Macrolevel Factors
• Deals with systematic interactions between social groups which
describe the ways society is structured.

• It includes the relative distribution of the population among the


groups and the flows of information, resources and people between
groups.

• Encompasses the variety and heterogeneity of racial, ethnic, cultural/


productive groups, their behaviors and beliefs, and economic
relations.
Motivation and Opportunity
• Motivation
• The outcome of a process in which a goal is formulated,
cost and benefits are assessed and internal constraints on
behavior are applied

• Influenced by rational decision making, other times is by


emotions such as anger, greed, or lust
Crime Causation: Its
Historical Overview
Aristotle

•Crime is poverty related describing


poverty as a mother of all
revolution and crimes.
Francis Bacon

• Criminality will depend on social situations.


• Opportunity makes a thief.
• Human behavior will depend on situations .
Voltaire and Rousseau

•Introduced the concept of free will.


•Crime is the same as hedonistic behavior
and failure to fulfill the social contract
obligations
Activity
• Read two (2) news about crime whether local, national or
international and determine the following:

• 1. Who are the perpetrators?

• 2. How did they commit the crime/s?

• 3. Why did the perpetrator/s commit/s the crime/s?


• Crimes Against Person
• Crimes Against Property
• Crimes Against Public Order
• Crime violating Special Law

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