Criminological Theory College Essays Samples For Students

Why did Sutherland play such a prominent role in discovering “white-collar crime” in the sense of defining it and making it an object of criminological study?
Sutherland’s interest in “white-collar crime” was stirred by the realization that most conventional criminological theories were focused and applicable only to crimes usually perpetrated by the lower-class. He believed that his own theory of differential association was both applicable to lower-class and upper-class individuals. His interest was even more reinforced when the stock market crashed in 1929. With the country and many of the people suffering from economic depression, Sutherland became more ...

About the theory

Labelling theory is a theory that proposes that society imposes certain labels on people who are perceived to commit criminal acts(Lopes et al. 2012). Criminal acts refer to actions and behaviors the society deems wrong either legally or morally(Caputo 2008). According to the labelling theory when we attach certain labels to people who have committed criminal acts such individuals may be obliged to live up to the labels thereby continuing with their crimes. Below is a case study and the integration of labelling theory in the case
Ken, a 16-year-old boy, is caught taking drugs by some ...

1. Is aggression an innate and deterministic quality from birth, or is it something that one or all can control, as a matter of free will and choice, to be used when we need it in a calculated manner?
There are different views that are given with regards to the origin of aggression among humans. Theorists like Lorenz and Freud view aggression as an innate quality of human beings but the more recent social theories tend to point out that aggression in humans are social in origin and coming from frustration and environmental influences (Hayes, 2013). Behaviorist scientists impugn Freud’ ...

Abstract:

Theories were developed over the years, as researchers and sociologists tried to explain the reasons why there is crime within the communities. These theories include the social bonds theory, the self-control theory, the power control theory, the control balance theory, the differential coercion theory, and the social support theory. Based on the theories, there are five realities behind the causation of crime: (1) that crime is caused by weakening bonds to the society; (2) that crime is the effect of having low self-control; (3) that crime is caused by occupational patriarchy; (4) that it is caused by the roles ...

Question one

White Collar crimes are criminal offenses whose offenders are people of high respectability in the society. White collar criminals usually occupy a position of trust and then devise a scheme to acquire wealth illegally. As Sutherland noted, white collar offenders do not see themselves as criminals. Crimes such as insider trading, Ponzi schemes, bribery, fraud, money laundering, cyber crime, copyright infringement and embezzlement fall within the definition of white collar crimes.
Sutherland disagreed with substantive and procedural principles of criminal law. Edwin Sutherland was more concerned with the perpetrator of the white collar crime than the crime itself. His writings ...

Deviance directly relates to the norms of the society. For sociologists that study crime and deviance, cultural norms are examined thoroughly on how they change with time, their enforcement and what suffices when those norms are broken. When formally written laws governing the society are broken, this amounts to a crime (Burke). In this case, if a crime is committed, the perpetrator will be detained and prosecuted. Deviance, on the other hand, refers to a situation where one goes against the prevailing norms of the society. Deviant people are more often ridiculed or send away from the society. Such kind of behavior ...

Theories of crime and criminology are developed to enable people to understand the various aspects of crime. They may be based on the causes of crime, the majorly affected and predisposed groups to crime and the possible solutions to crime. These theories may conflict, depending with the observations and opinions of those who developed them.
Emile in his Anomie theory describes crime as a normal part of a society. This is due to lack of clear cut norms and at times the inability of people to adjust to changing social norms. In Reckless’ theory of containment, it states that in ...

Question one

The main rationale, which explains the emergence of the Chicago school of criminology was to provide a different meaning of how crime and related behavior. Notably, the earlier theories of crime only focused on a few reasons that explain criminal actions; the school was for an idea of providing a socialization aspect, which would improve on the past explanation of crime. Categorically, the Chicago school of criminal thought formulated various theories, some of which emphasized that people are not born bad or good; instead, the environment around them, and the social situation influence their behavior (Vito & Maahs, 2012).
Apart from that, ...

- Discuss the relationship between crime and demography (i.e. gender, age, race, social class, education, employment). In answering the question, pay careful consideration to the measurement of demography and crime. Be sure to highlight and discuss reciprocal relationships between crime and demography (i.e. race increases the risk of victimization and crime increases the risk of White Flight). Draw on Criminological theory and empirical research in outlining your response. Draw on required reading and class presentations. 917
On a national average, the Blacks are nearly four times as likely to be arrested for possession of marijuana as compared to the ...