CRCJ 1000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Personality Disorder, Conflict Theories, Atavism
14 Mar 2017
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Document Summary
Major theories are sociology, psychology + biology informed. Others do not fit into these 3 streams. Boyd theories are not opinions" but testable, repeatable, academically-informed hypotheses. Challenged the way criminals were dealt with. Argued against death penalty and use of torture to extract confessions. Rationalism + free will with notions of crime. Defined by rational choice of criminals (criminals were rational actors) Examples of classical school thinking in modern judicial system. Codification of criminal offenses, presumption of innocence, legal concept of mens rea Crime is not only normal in society, but necessary to hold society together. 4 central points on the functions of crime in society: deeming of acceptable and unacceptable, social solidarity for law abiding public, innovation- social technology- social innovation (how society solves problems, serves as an indicator of social health. Too much or too little crime is a sign of social unhealthiness. Law as mechanism to protect those with wealth, protect the status quo.
