Discuss the ideas behind Deterrence both Specific and General. In your opinion, do any of these deterrent methods seem to be working (Ch 14)? Explain.
Question Two
Discuss Routine Activities. Make sure to include what motivates offenders, who are suitable targets, and the absence of guardianship (Ch 9).
Discuss how situational crime prevention (Ch 15) can help reduce some of the elements of routine activities theory.
Chapter 14: Use of Prisons
In the 18th Century, the Quakers believed that even the worst of the worst sinner could be saved. When a person in their community committed a crime, they would lock them in a cellar with nothing but a candle and a bible to read.
When they felt the person had repented enough for their sins and asked God for forgiveness, they would release the person from the cellar and then excommunicate them from their community.
By the 19th century, we saw the creation of the Auburn Prison model and we started to use the term Penitentiaries “a place where a person would repent for their sins.” Now, we mostly refer to them as Prisons. In this new model, we would put the inmates to work so they could help pay back the communities.
Ex: Farming, clean up, making license plates.
Throughout the years, the ideas of prisons have changed:
4 ERAS of Corrections
1- Retribution- Prison was used for punishment only. Eye for an Eye mentality.
2- Incapacitation- Prison was used to just lock everyone up so they could not hurt anyone else in the community.
3- Deterrence- Where punishments are made strict so that the purpose is to deter individuals from breaking the law:
Specific Deterrence- when the individual is punished tougher to get them to rethink/change their behaviors.
General Deterrence- Punishments that are put in place to deter individuals from breaking the law.
Examples: 1- Death Penalty 2- Mandatory Sentencing Guidelines 3- Three Strikes
4- Rehabilitation- Offering programs and services to lessen the chances of the individual re-offending.
Ex- Substance Abuse Programs, Mental Health Programs, Anger Management, Anti-Gun Violence Programs, GED Programs, and Batters Intervention Programs.
Chapter 15: Reducing Crime
There are three broad ideological perspectives on the causes of crime and how to reduce crime:
1- The Conservative Perspective
2- The Liberal Perspective
3- The Radical Perspective
Reforming the Criminal Justice System
Overreach of Criminal Law
The Police
The Courts
– Juvenile Courts
The Prisons
Situational Crime Prevention
Target Hardening
Chapter 9
Chapter Nine:
Routine Activities theory suggests that there is a motivated offender, suitable target, and absence of guardianship.
Think about what motivates offenders? Money, Revenge, Rage, Addiction, etc.
Think about who suitable targets may be? An Elderly Person, A Child, A Disabled Person, etc.
Think about absence of guardianship? A Person Walking Alone, A Person Who Is Lost, Late at Night.
Statistically, most crimes happen between 2.am. and 6 a.m. but that does not mean that crimes do not happen at 9 a.m. or 4 p.m. Think about Who is out between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. and why they are out?
Property crimes increase during the holiday season as well as the Summer. Why? Many people have extra money on them during the holiday time and may go on vacation leaving their property unguarded. In the Summer, people may go on vacations or day trips leaving their property unguarded.
No assignment this week!
