Criminology Rational Choice Theory - 1683 Words

Name Instructor Course Date Essay Questions Question 1 At the core of criminology, there is a belief that a criminal decides to commit a crime after weighing the benefits and disadvantages of engaging. In such a case, the decision to commit the crime is a rational one, and the best way to counter it is through a deterrence-based system. The rational choice theory assumes that humans are self-centered and the actions they undertake determine the consequences they incur. The position of rationality concept assumes that criminal behaviors are not different from the non-criminal ones, in that they determine the intentional conducts individuals undertake, that is, they are not forced to conduct a crime. Criminals choose to engage in certain†¦show more content†¦Such a case represents general deterrence, where the person has not yet been previously punished but does not want to commit the crime since he or she does not want to be caught and prosecuted. The threat of established legal sanctions are the inhibitors to a person who wants to commit a crime for the first time. The other form is specific deterrence, where an individual decides to refrain from conducting a crime due to fear of being prosecuted again, after a previous sanction on the individual. The fear of conducting a crime, in this case, arises from threats of previous punishment and fear of being punished again. For example, an inmate who was recently released from prison may fear to conduct another crime since he or she does not want to be rearrested and prosecuted again. The person is already aware of the punishments and sanctions that a criminal undergoes if arrested, and thus decides to refrain from engaging in criminal activities. It is one of the measures that reduce the number of criminals, especially those inmates previous arrested and released. Question 2 The growth of metropolitan cities led to rural-urban migration amongst most societies, with most individuals moving to urban centers to acquire employment opportunities inShow MoreRelatedThe Rational Choice Theory Of Criminology1106 Words   |  5 Pages The Rational Choice Theory April Smolkowicz Criminology 3200 Georgia Gwinnett College  The Classical School of Criminology was developed by two utilitarian philosophers, Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham during the early 17th century. The Classical School of Criminology is an important theory in the framework of criminal behavior, with principle themes that include: criminal acts are of individuals free will and rational deliberation, calculating, and hedonistic beings. CriminalsRead MoreRational Choice Theory Criminology1151 Words   |  5 PagesIn Criminology, Prof. Boldt has either talked about or brought up a few dozen theories in just a few weeks. 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