SOC 2700 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: White-Collar Crime, Lawbreakers, Homicide

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 2700
• Professor: Reza Barmaki

Document Summary

If they can be convinced that their actions will bring severe punishment, only the totally irrational will commit crime. Is crime rational: some crimes are the obvious product of rational and objective thought, especially when they involve an ongoing criminal conspiracy centered on economic gain. Are street crimes rational: street crimes, such as prostitution and petty theft, are not random acts but are the product of the careful assessment of environmental, social, and structural factors. Targeting specific crimes: crime prevention tactics in use today generally fall into categories: Increasing the effort needed to commit the crime. Increasing the risks of committing the crime: reducing the rewards for committing the crime. General deterrence: the concept of general deterrence holds that crime rates are influenced and controlled by the threat of criminal punishment if people fear apprehension and punishment, they will not risk breaking the law.