Theories of Criminal Behavior and Criminal Justice Policies

reflect on the theories you studied throughout the course, each proposing different root causes of criminal behavior. How well do criminal justice practices and policies acknowledge those causes? Based on what you have learned about the root causes of criminal behavior, respond to the following question:

 Do current criminal justice policies and practices address the root causes of crime? If not, what changes would you recommend?

 Use one example from the case study you followed in this course to show how a different policy or practice may have changed an outcome in that case.

Week Six Discussion: Root Causes of Criminal Behavior and Criminal Justice Policies

Hello Everyone,

 “Wishing you all success and happiness on your journey in life. May you be showered with many opportunities and everything your heart’s desire!”

Throughout this course, I have learned that many factors contribute to criminal behavior. Things like someone’s home life and/or childhood, their environment and peers, genetics, and mental illness like psychopathy all can cause someone to commit a criminal act (Howell, et., 2017). There are also many theories as to the way these things contribute to the criminal mind. Such as the social learning theory which suggests that when it comes to some criminal behavior, it is learned by imitating or mimicking the behaviors of those around you. Or how studies are done about the effects of childhood victimization, abuse, and neglect are related to criminal activity once they are an adult. Even substance abuse can give someone criminal motives.

I think that criminal justice policies and practices address crime the best they can for the system that is already in place. It is not perfect and does need changes, things like more psychological evaluations of people in the courts and prison system. For example, Joseph Keen’s alcohol abuse and violent behavior should have been addressed the first time he got into trouble with the law. Things like anger management classes and substance abuse therapy may have been a positive start to correcting his criminal ways. While had Susan Keen received parenting classes because of her children’s criminal behavior and substance abuse treatment for her alcohol and opiate addiction this could have helped also.

I would like to add that I am a firm believer that the way someone behaves begins in the home. The state and courts can only do so much with limited resources, if parents are neglectful or criminals themselves, what chance does a child have for their future with regards to crime?

Howell, K. H., Cater, A. K., Miller-Graff, L. E., Schwartz, L. E., & Graham-Bermann, S. A. (2017). The relationship between types of childhood victimization and young adulthood criminality. Criminal Behavior and Mental Health, 27(4), 341-353. Retrieved from https://doi- org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1002/cbm.2002

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