CRM/LAW C109 Study Guide - Final Guide: Juvenile Delinquency, Informal Social Control, Social Control Theory
1. Describe the age-distribution of crime as it has been discussed in class and describe two
implications of the distribution for policy about crime.
●Rapid increase in crime for preadolescent and peak at early adulthood, then declines
rapidly and continues to throughout life
●Implications
○Crime rates are not largely affected by what we do with adults
○If we want probability of offenses to decline we only need to wait
2. Describe self-control theory, as presented in class readings and lectures, and discuss one
policy implication of the theory.
●Developmental theory that modifies social control theory by integrating concepts from
biosocial, psychological, routine activities, and rational choice theories
●The theory that holds that antisocial behavior is caused by a lack of self control stemming
from an impulsive personality
●The propensity to commit antisocial acts is tied directly to a person level of self control
3. Describe how the term incapacitation has been used in class and how it relates to the
“big facts” also discussed in class.
●Focus on doing something to with or for offenders to lower their crime rate
●You have to have opportunity to commit crime thus we must restrict or alter these
opportunities
●Relates to big facts of age effect
○Have to incapacitate before the crime to have an effect
○As they get older, delqineuc is reduced and incapacitation will not work anymore
4. Discuss three of the major family factors and how they relate to juvenile delinquency.
●Family breakup
○parents /guardians act as main source of informal social control, when social
control is disrupted then children are free to be involved in antisocial behaviors
○Children raised in home with absent parents lead to antisocial behavior
delinquency
○More often of divorce leads to delinquency
●Family conflict
○Not all marriages end with divorce some live in atmosphere of conflict
○Children perception of his or her parents marital happiness is predictor of
delinquency
●Family competence
○Children raised by parent lacking proper parenting skills are more at risk
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○Parents overly strict and controlling more likely to produce children with
behavioral problems
○Parents who are inconsistent or hash with discipline
○Inconsistent supervision
○Must have structure at home but allowing them to have freedom → less
delinquency
●Family deviance
○Children socialized in homes where parents abuse substances or commit crime
more likely to be delinquent
○Parental involvement in justice system
○Deviant siblings
5. Describe the school factors that predict delinquency. Be sure to include both individual
and school-level factors in your answer.
●Dropping out can lead to delinquency (truancy)
●Individual level causes
○Feeling isolated or alone with little parental attention
○Level of substance abuse increases violent crime rate
●School level causes
○Large students with emotional and psychological problems have high rates
of crime and violence
○School climate - quality and character of school life
○Large schools, located in cities of crime
○Psychical condition of school
●Community level causes
○Poverty in area
○High population leads to problem zone schools
○School experiencing crime and drug abuse are likely to be found in
socially disorganized neighborhoods
6. Describe how control theory uses the concept of “bonds” and describe the elements of
the bond.
●Mechanism of control are bonds, which are used to link individual and society in order to
minimize individual side and maximize society
●Elements of bond
○Coercive - force or threat of force; fear of punishment
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○Normative - control through shared values, good will of family and friends, moral
values
○Exchange - education, family, economic stability, calculating dimensions
7. Describe the similarities and differences between school shooters and street shooters as
outlined in class and the readings.
●Street shooters
○Relatively rare
○Concentrated in inner areas
○Non white offenders overrepresented
○Guns obtained from illegal markets
○Preferred weapon is handgun
○History of disciplinary problems common
○Prior victimization common
○Victims most of same race and sex
○Family victims unusual
○Substance use is common
○From low income families
○Avoids media attention
○Below average academic achievement
○Knows someone who was killed or been killed
○Co-offending is typical
●School shooters
○Extremely rare
○Concentrated in rural towns and suburbs
○Mostly white offenders
○Guns obtained from family members, legally
○Use multiple guns
○History of discipline uncommon
○Mixed sexes, same race
○Substance abuse uncommon
○Seek media attention
○Average or above average achievement
○Do not know anyone killed before
●Both
○Prior victimization common (street) & link with shootings and history of being
bullied (school)
○Shootings are planned and not impulsive
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Document Summary
Describe the age-distribution of crime as it has been discussed in class and describe two implications of the distribution for policy about crime. Rapid increase in crime for preadolescent and peak at early adulthood, then declines rapidly and continues to throughout life. Crime rates are not largely affected by what we do with adults. If we want probability of offenses to decline we only need to wait: describe self-control theory, as presented in class readings and lectures, and discuss one policy implication of the theory. Developmental theory that modifies social control theory by integrating concepts from biosocial, psychological, routine activities, and rational choice theories. The theory that holds that antisocial behavior is caused by a lack of self control stemming from an impulsive personality. The propensity to commit antisocial acts is tied directly to a person level of self control: describe how the term incapacitation has been used in class and how it relates to the.