Criminology and public policy
Relation to juvenile status offenders
According to the biological theory, criminals are born with less advanced biological features as compared to other normal law abiding citizens. In that vein, juveniles with less advanced features such as hairy bodies, broad chins, and shapeless ears are likely to indulge in crime. According to this theory, the tendency to commit crime is inherent as early as at birth. On the other hand, the psychoanalytic theory attributes crime to the nature of upbringing accorded to a child during the period of his or her childhood. In that breath, juveniles who went through tough childhoods would likely disregard the rule of law and easily resort into crime for survival.
Social disorganization theory attributes crime to the social interactions that people are exposed to. The theory asserts that the juveniles who are necessarily exposed to environments that disregard the law and public order would acclimatize the conditions within and adopt the characteristics. Rational choice theory attributes committing of crime as a rational choice made out of the need to survive and earn a living. According to the theorists, juvenile offenders would resort into crime to find a means of survival that would ensure they earn their living. Lastly, the strain theory attributes crime to strenuous conditions of life. The need to survive and compete in life compels some juveniles into crime as they strive to earn a basic living.
Relation to violent adult offenders
According to the biological theory, violent adult offenders simply possess less advanced biological features. The offenders have the inherent tendency for crime including violent crime. Psychoanalytical theorists explain it precisely by attributing their love for violence to earlier experiences as children. These violent adults must have been exposed to lives full of violence. On the other hand, social disorganization attributes violent offenders to the social set up which must be unstructured and embracive of violence. Such set ups typically disregard the rule of law. The strain theory relates violence offenders to the fact that they have gone through a lot of stress in the pursuit of economic satisfaction and find violence as the only remedy towards achieving their goals. The rational choice theory differs slightly from strain theory. The former attributes violence offenders to a rational choice to fight others so as to make a gain. In their world, opportunities can only be obtained through force.
Relation to criminal acts and juvenile delinquents
All the five theories attempt to explain crime. The biological theorists attribute crime and juvenile delinquency to the inherent biological features in a criminal. These features push the criminal into committing the crime. Psychoanalytical theory attributes crime and juvenile delinquency to the exposure accorded to the criminal during his or her childhood. The negative upbringing makes the criminal disregard the rule of law. Social disorganization looks at the bigger picture. It considers the influence the current society has on a criminal or juvenile delinquent. A disorganized society with no legal channels and order would easily contribute to crime. Strain theorists; however, attributes the commitment of crime to the competitive nature of society that forces individuals to strain for resources. The failure to get resources through legal and morally accepted ways compels juvenile delinquents and criminals into criminal activity. Lastly, the rational choice theory attributes the indulgence in crime to a rational decision essentially for survival and for the sake of living.
How a judge can implement the theories in his or her courtroom
A judge ought to understand the accused brought before him or her. He should attempt to interrogate the criminal with the intention of obtaining the reason for committing the crime. Usually all criminals have got reasons for committing the crimes they do commit. In fact, a judge should go through the records available on the criminals such as regularity in crime, what types of crime, among other factors. With the information the judge would attribute the criminal to a given theory and find a solution in form of sentencing that best addresses the criminal’s needs. It would be essential to know the criminal’s philosophy. In discharging this responsibility, the judge ought to be aware of all the five theories, that is, biological, psychoanalytical, social disorganization, rational choice and strain theory.
Use of theories by adult probation or parole officers
The theories can be used by probation and parole officers. The two classes of officers essentially discharge the responsibilities of observing, supervising and monitoring offenders under reform programs. It would be vital to first understand the criminal before attempting to reform him or her. Officers would want to know whether it was the upbringing as attributed in the psychoanalytical theory, or the current environment in the society as is attributed by the social disorganization theory that occasions the indulgence of crime by the criminals. The officers ought to examine whether any biological features in the criminals in any way contribute to the criminal activities. On the other hand, they ought to examine the effects of rational choice theory on the criminals. Perhaps questions such as did the criminal make the decision individually? Was it for any economic gain? Was he or she aware of any other alternatives? Lastly, the officers should examine the strain the criminals go through in their lives. What alternatives do they have? Is the structuring of the society unfair and un-accommodative to them? With that kind of information, the officers would be best placed to make informed decisions towards the reform of the criminals.
Use by juvenile probation officers
In the same vein, juvenile probation officers would find the theories useful in the discharge of their duties. Juvenile probation officers essentially supervise and monitor juvenile offenders on correctional facilities and rehabilitation programs. They need to understand the philosophy of the juveniles before attempting to reform them. In that vein, they would find the theories vital as they attempt to explain various philosophies that govern and direct the conduct of juvenile offenders. They ought to especially explore questions on choices, alternatives, upbringing and general societal structuring. These questions draw a strong foundation from the five theories of crime. In finding solutions to various problems facing juveniles, the officers would appreciate and make use of solutions posited by the theorists. For instance, theorists of rational choice have asserted consistently that crime can be solved through the availability of economic alternatives so that people do not resort to crime for economic gains. On the other hand, the strain theorists assert that societal conflicts of economic, political and social dimensions need to be solved to avoid their manifestation through crime in society.
Conclusion
It should be appreciated that the theories offer diverse explanation for crimes in society. The theories do not necessarily work in isolation. In some cases, they can work in a hybrid method. An example could be the rational choice theory and the strain theory. Due to societal strains and competition, a poor citizen would make a rational choice to rob an old lady so as to get some economic gain.
References
Jones, S. (2009). Criminology. New York: Oxford University Press.
Newburn, T. (2007). Criminology. New York: Willan Pub.
