Predicted Character of Criminal Behavior - Essay Example

The general theory of crime presupposes that while an individual’s personality, that is, their ability to exercise self-control remains stabilized but the crime level continues to change. Sampson and Laub however, posit that their age-graded life course perspective demonstrates that an individual’s behavior changes also as a result of social circumstances. Further, they posit that it is the changes within the life course and not necessarily self-control that will mandate the level of crimes that a person may or may not commit.

Accordingly, the presented assertions offer various theories regarding what will constitute a likely offender. All of this notwithstanding there is a shared common denominator as per causal process: for Gottfredson and Hirschi, it is succinctly defined as the emotional investment of the parents. Meaning, if the parents have emotionally provided for their child, then it would follow that the child can show and demonstrate self-control; for Sampson and Laub, it is the emotional attachment of a prior offender to a place of employment of a relationship of status such as marriage that ultimately paves the way to resistance. This similarity allows them to be linked using a psychological theory of deviance called attachment theory.

While I can understand the general theory of crime, I cannot subscribe to it. Without sounding insulting, to suppose that every crime can be explained by a single theory is insulting to the intellect of the twenty-first century. It is generally understood that we as human beings are the combination of our genes and our environment. It is also generally understood that we are all exposed to different experiences in our lifetime, some positive and others horrendous. Nobody processes or internalizes their experiences in the same way. What is harmful or traumatizing to one person is not necessarily so for another. As a result, our future behaviors may or may not be influenced by our past and our interpretation of it. As a result, it cannot be said that a single theory can explain any crime that we may commit. To say that a single theory can explain every crime is to also say that a single theory defines all human nature. Because it is already known that no two people are the same, no single theory can be employed to explain their behavior good or bad. Accordingly, I don’t agree that there is any general theory of crime.

For the past ten years, there has been a myriad of reports on boot camps in the United States. These are commonly known as “shock camps”. The purpose of these camps was to start a “get tough program that was military based. The camps include extreme physical labor, drills, and a military schedule that is highly structured. The military shock camp started in the southern part of the United States and was applied to male prisoners. It is now used in the juvenile system as well. The Canadian system was created to introduce what is perceived as the best part of the Canadian military system along with the youth programs that Canada has designed. The hope is that the determination and behavior of the youth will lead to him being promoted. The reward of a promotion progresses into a desire to succeed in the outside world and the structure that boot camp offers allows the offender to graduate the program with a discipline level he had no idea he possessed.

A criminal event is defined as having five dimensions. They are space, time, law, offender, and target or victim. It is these five elements that are necessary for the crime to exist. The Canadian Cadet performance guide addresses the five dimensions enunciated by the criminal event. The cadet performance guide ranges from levels one through four of the behavior system.  Indeed, military aspects are evident in several tasks that the camp requires.  For example: “memorize the cadet motto” and “perform drill movements which include but are not limited to proper saluting”. Unlike the military, however, this program has specific goals which allow the inmate to chart their goals and plan their future with their counselors and probation officers. Therapy both individual and group is offered which brings a nurturing component to this otherwise military program. Ultimately, the inmate walks out with more skills than they had walked into the facility. This also applies to coping mechanisms. Desired and appropriate behaviors are demonstrated to the cadets and the behavior that got the cadets into the camp is discussed.  Cadets leave with a keen understanding of what demonstrates antisocial behaviors and behaviors that a civilized society finds unacceptable. Indeed, through military training (of which a huge component is an honor) the cadet learns what is not acceptable and eventually finds himself finding criminal behavior to be destructive. It is not just doing the crime and paying the time. Rather, it is learning why the crime was committed in the first place and defining ways to make sure that it does not happen in the future. Staff rate cadet performance daily on a 5-point scale in seven domains: routines and chores, relations with peers, relations with staff, group program participation, academic performance, physical fitness, and dress and deportment. Accordingly, I think that this is the best program out there for teens and grown inmates.