SOC 2700 Chapter Notes - Chapter 13: Train Robbery, Convenience Store
6 Apr 2016
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Document Summary
Following the instability of the 1980s, us politics reverted to traditional values, while liberal thinking was seen as reckless/naive. Increase in defence spending, prison populations, and the "war on crime/drugs" were a result of this cultural shift. Belief that criminals were evil and acted on a pro/con basis helped eliminate desire for rehabilitation and instead increase severity of sentences to increase deterrence. Victimization surveys helped further this agenda by making criminals seem hedonistic and being able to commit crime with ease. Routine activities theory: # of criminal offences related to nature of everyday social interactions. ex. Change in way we do these things has also changed the way crime is committed (for example, train robberies are almost non-existent while car theft has increased). Believes there are 3 factors: agitation of the criminal, suitable victim, and lack of authority/protection from crime. Theory believes that crime occurs if these three factors converge.
