Criminal Justice
Sakaroo
TheoryChoiceRational.pptRational Choice Theory
Beccaria
PRESENTED BY DR. JERRY D. LAMB
CRIMINOLOGY 8TH EDITION, LARRY J. SIEGEL
© 2003 WADSWORTH PUBLISHING CO.
*
Question
Do you think that a criminal act
is a matter of “rational choice?”
*
Cesare Beccaria (1738-1794)
Close friends with Verri brothers, who formed an intellectual circle called “the academy of fists” which focused on reforming the criminal justice system
Wrote On Crimes and Punishments (1764)
Beccaria touches on an array of criminal justice practices, recommending reform.
Two key philosophical theories: social contract and utility
http://www.iep.utm.edu/beccaria/
*
Cesare Beccaria Theory
- There are three main legs:
Freewill,
Rational manner and
Manipulability
http://www.constitution.org/cb/crim_pun.htm
*
Core Concepts of Choice or
Classical Criminology
People’s choice
can be controlled
By the fear of
punishment.
The more certain swift and proportional
punishment, the greater its ability
to control criminal behavior.
People choose
all behavior,
including criminal
behavior. Derived from
the notion of free-will.
*
Main Assumptions of
Rational Choice Theory
They must make choices in relation to both their goals and the means for attaining these goals
Rational choice theories hold that individuals must anticipate the outcomes of alternative courses of action and calculate that which will be best for them
Rational individuals choose the alternative that is likely to give them the greatest satisfaction
*
THE DECISION TO COMMIT A CRIME
Adapted from D. Cornish and R. Clarke (eds.) 1986. The Reasoning Criminal. New York: Springer-Verlag.
*
Rational Choice Theory
- Rational choice theory is based on the concept of the “reasoning criminal,” Risk v. Reward
- Offender specific
- Based on Person’s Background – offender criminality is a result of structured behavior as opposed to a random act.
- Offense specific
Comfortable With Specific Acts – offenders react selectively to the characteristics of a particular offenses.
*
Manipulation of Behaviors
- Rational choice theory is concerned with situational crime prevention, i.e., reducing opportunities to commit crimes.
Cameras
Shaming
Design Layout, etc.
- Both Jeffery and Clarke propose strategies to reduce the overall crime rate by controlling the environment and specific targets, i.e., defensible space – they focus on eliminating criminal opportunity in residential areas.
*
Four Prong Prevention
- To prevent all criminal offenses.
- To ensure that a criminal uses no more force than is necessary.
- When it cannot prevent a crime, to convince the offender to commit a less serious one.
- To prevent a crime
- as cheaply as possible.
