CRIM 300W Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Deterrence Theory, List Of Countries By Intentional Homicide Rate, Longitudinal Study

• School: Simon Fraser University
• Department: Criminology
• Course: CRIM 300W
• Professor: Jay H

Document Summary

Week 4 modern applications of the classical perspective. Deterrence, rational choice, and routine activities/lifestyle theories of crime. Beginning in the late 19th century, criminological researchers dismissed the. An emphasis was placed on social, biological or other factors that go beyond free will and deterrence theory. Studies revealed new interest in the deterrent aspect of criminal behavior and supported the importance of certainty, severity of punishment in deterring individuals, especially homicide. Increased risk or certainty of punishment was associated with less crime for most serious offences. Offenders who are arrested once never get arrested again. Unit of analysis shifted from aggregate level more micro, individual level. Cross-sectional studies deterrence research that focused on individual perceptions of certainty and severity of sanctions (drawn at one point in time) 1: perceptions of certainty strongly associated with intentions to commit future crimes, not clear whether perceptions where causing behavior changes or behavior causing changes in perception.