The Sociological Theories in Criminal Justice - Assignment Example

?The Sociological Theories in Criminal Justice The Sociological Theories in Criminal Justice submission) The Sociological Theories in Criminal Justice Abstract Criminal act had been a menace in the society and in the criminal justice system with its disturbing if not devastating effects. Although, criminal justice is vigilant in their duty to prosecute offenders, it seems that the number of crimes committed in an everyday basis remain to be the same. As part of the campaign to eventually find some solution with the problem, the criminal justice is looking into considering sociological theories believed to be effective in addressing several crimes. A discussion of social control theory, strain theory, differential association theory, and neutralization theory are not isolated variables in analyzing criminal acts. These theories are products of social environment believed to be of great help in solving crimes. A description of each is dissected as well as their strength and weaknesses. A case is also included and a related theory is used to explain the criminal act. Introduction Every day, we hear and watch many incidences of criminal acts such as robbery, shooting, burglary, theft, and many others not only in the United States but around the globe. Some of which had been threatening the social security, societal harmony, and the economy of the country. As a result, criminal justice system had been vigilant in apprehending and prosecuting offenders. However, such actions seem not enough to give lessons to the offenders. The criminal justice seems to agree they need to consider sociological theories deemed important to explain and understand criminal behaviors. This paper will discuss social control theory, strain theory, differential association theory, and neutralizing theory to include their strength and weaknesses as well as one related case. Discussion of Sociological Theories The social control theory explains that social tie within a group is the determining factor in the formation of the person’s behavior. Social control can be in the form of family, peers, schools, church, and the community. With proper socialization that creates the attachment of the members, the person learns the skills to become functional individual in the society. In addition, family, peers, and teachers serve as agents in whom the individual learns his values and develop his attitude. However, with the absence of commitment, deviance results since members find no point of conforming to the norms imposed by their group without fear of disapproval. The strong social control makes the members give importance to the opinion of other members. In the event, one of this becomes defective, so with the behavior of its members. The concept of strain theory was based on the idea of anomie originally coined by Durkheim and was popularized by Merton, Cohen, Cloward, Ohlin, and Agnew among others. Strain theory posits that the social structure in the society play a role in the deviant behaviors of a person. Strains come in the form of inadequate provision of social structures, regulations, dysfunctional institutions, unstable equilibrium. In a society where wealth is a symbol of success, individuals behave in certain ways to adapt to the demand of becoming wealthy. Merton suggests several modes to adapt to the demand of reaching material success. One is through ritualism where the individual compulsively conforms to the institutional means. As a result, he blindly follows the rules and regulations without regard to the goal of the organization he belongs. If a person accepts the goal imposed by the society but accomplish them in an unacceptable means, then he is employing innovation as observed for individuals who steal money to support expensive vacation. Retreatism is the withdrawal from both the goals and means of the society usually employed by vagrants and drug addicts. Rebellion is a strategy in which it involves the attempt to create new structure. This is employed by rebels because of the feeling that they are alienated by people who are wealthy and powerful (Schaefer, 2006). Differential Association theory denotes that the individual may acquire proper or improper behavior through interactions with primary group and significant others. The person is exposed to environment through differential association specifically the attitude favoring criminal acts. As the person interacts with certain group, he learns the techniques of breaking laws such as how to enter the house unnoticed and quickly. The drives, rationalization, and motives to carry out illicit activities are learned. The extent to which this attitude is acquired depends on duration, frequency, and importance of social interaction in the form of experiences endorsing deviant behavior and experiences promoting its acceptance. A deviant behavior continues to persist if their act is rewarded in any form. For teenagers, their peer group provides the members their definition, reinforcement, and ground for imitation of criminal act (Wolfe, 2009). In neutralization theory, law breakers particularly juveniles neutralize their behavior and terminate social control through several strategies in the form of denial of responsibility, denial of victim, denial of injury, appeal to higher loyalties, and condemnation. In the denial of responsibility, the offender justifies his act through displacing the blame to their families, peers, and significant others to look like their acts are an accident. Denial of victim is viewed by offenders as a form of punishment to the victim. It is a strategy blaming the victim applying the statement “she deserves it”. Individuals who steal justify their act through denial of injury where it is concluded that the money stole was only borrowed and no harm done thus the act is morally right. When a delinquent believes he is not alone, and that people occupying a higher position and supporters of law are deviants just the same, he is using condemnation strategy. Appeal for Higher Loyalties is the technique where the deviant tries to protect values and loyalties to the extent of breaking the law (Matza, n.d). Weaknesses and Strength The strength of Social control theory lies in proving the role of attachment in a group as a strong force to control group members thus delinquency is lessened. However, it seems there is a contradiction in this explanation where in adolescents who are observed to have a strong attachment with their peer group seem to be more involved in delinquencies. In addition, this theory is not applicable in all cultures since there are cultures which disagree with too much attachment within family circles. For strain theory, its strength includes its discussion of realistic causes of deviant behavior in reflecting why and how social structures and position affects conformity and deviant behavior. It was very clear in its point in dissecting reasons how deviant behavior develops. It has also a rounded interpretation of behavioral response in certain strained situations. However, its weakness lies in its focus on behavioral deviations as a result of money, wealth, and power with minimal discussion on non economic deviant behaviors. The differential association theory has a stronghold in dissecting how the individual is influenced with her interaction with groups he may possibly encounter. The weakness of this theory in found in its failure to explain certain forms of behavior such as the first time shoplifter with impulsive urge. Likewise, it has no explanation on the how an impoverish thief who steels because of necessity acquire his criminal tendency. In addition, the concept of the theory is the same with the contention of social learning theory of Bandura. The strength of neutralization theory is its discussion with self understanding and attributions. However, similar with the rest of the theories, it also has weaknesses such as its focus on juvenile delinquency alone. Aside from that, it remains to be underdeveloped. Critics of it find the theory make no sense on ground that that how could one neutralize action before he could execute it making the theory impossible to test. All the justifications identified are all defective and it is not reasonable enough to be accepted as reasons (Maruna & Copes, 2004). Such proposal is impossible to cover guilt feelings of offenders in cases they are caught or realize their behavior is not acceptable in the society. Case Application The case of Andre Luis Ortega, a United States citizen who killed and robbed Mr. Adams was found guilty of first degree murder by the jury (unknown, 2007). Interestingly, the jury found out that Ortega executed the crime with the direction of his group, a street gang. Most probably, his case is related to differential association theory. The behavior of Ortega according to the theory could be due his association and commitment with his group who engage in a norm defying behavior. Street gang members operate in a manner where their allegiance is tested which happened to Ortega. Although, Ortega is aware that he could be in danger of executing the act, he willingly accepted the challenge because he gives importance to the group making it a ground for his conviction. This gives a notion that members act not for their own incentives but to the incentive of the whole group. Such characteristics are the salient features of differential association theory. Schaefer (2006) in his book offered another example in which a boy is involved. He is outgoing and sociable living in an area with high prevalence of delinquency is likely to come in contact with groups vulnerable to commit vandalism, out of school youth and other delinquent groups may adopt the same behavior. In contrast, a boy who comes in contact with sport minded group is likely to project a behavior of an athlete. This shows that differential association theory denotes that improper behavior is the result of the kind of group one belongs. This is also supported with the by Smith and group (2009) where they pointed out that peer group where they learned criminal acts play a role in exacerbation of delinquency. Conclusion When one looks at criminal acts, he cannot say that a single sociological theory is “right” and the other is “wrong”. Although, sometimes theories overlap, each views criminal behavior from a different vantage point. Social control theory put emphasis on attachment to control deviancy, strain theory focuses on accumulating wealth as a cause of criminal act, differential theory points to association with certain groups to be influential in the formation of criminal behavior, and neutralization indicates justifying criminal acts in certain ways. Many sociologists use all approaches for a complete understanding of crime causation. The criminal justice system could also do the same to eventually put practice and theory in action. If this happens, the world would be a safer and a better place to live in. References High Beam Research. 2007, Jackson county prosecutors charge two for drug robbery that led to homicide, Retrieved from, http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-10944498.html on November 26, 2011. Marona, S., & Copes, H., (2004). Excuses, excuse: what we have learned from five decades of neutralization research. Pdf. Retrieved from http://www.shaddmaruna.info on November 25, 2011. Matza, D., (n.d.). Theory of delinquency. Retrieved from criminology.fsu.edu/crimtheory/matza.htm on November 25, 2011. Schaefer, R. (2006). Sociology. New York. McGraw-Hill companies. Smith, M., et. al. (2009). Peer Influence in Children and Adolescents: Crossing the Bridge from Developmental to Intervention Science. Journal of abnormal child psychology. 33(3). Wolfe, S. (2009). Explaining deviant peer association: An examination of low self control, ethical predisposition, definition, and digital privacy. Western Criminology Review. 10 ( 1). Read More