According to Bureau Census, the crime rate in the United States has declined since the 1980s due to a focus on the enforcement of criminal justice systems. However, the crime rate is reported to be high due to a large income gap between the lower and the upper social class, which leads to people choosing alternative means of earning a livelihood such as by engaging in crime. Crime has also been reported to be high due to racial discrimination where economic resources are distributed unfairly among the white and black people. Consequently, a relative proportion of black families have been living in poverty and this has forced them to engage in criminal activities to support their families.
Theories of Criminal Behavior
The second part is about theories that explain the criminal behavior, and they include the cheater theory, psychoanalytic theory, behavioral theory, and social theories. The cheater theory suggests that men have evolved to have genes that are inclined towards deviant behaviors due to low parental involvement, a trait that has changed them to adopt illegal means of gaining resource. The second theory, psychoanalytic theories, were formulated by founding fathers of sociology, such Sigmund Freud who argued a wrong upbringing causes a mal-adaptive behavior called Oedipus Complex which is manifested through violent behaviors . There are behavior theories that reveal that people become criminals as a result of being taught criminal behaviors.
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Models of Criminal Behavior
There are various models of criminal justice, such as the due process model where the government uses, the court system and bill of rights to maintain law and order. The second is the crime control model that focuses on fighting crime by controlling the effects of urbanization, immigration, and industrialization.
Punishment Theories Used In Prisons
Some of the punishment theories that are used in prisons today include retribution, punishing a person based on the crime committed, such as giving a death sentence to a murderer. The second is deterrence which involves preventing offenders from repeating the offense by using various means to instill fear of the consequences. There is incarceration where offenders are sent to jails and prisons to serve their sentence, and lastly, there is rehabilitation which is used to restore criminals to a law-abiding way of life using planned interventions.
Ways of Reducing Crime
Some ways can be used to decrease crime such as reducing medial violence which is portrayed in violent games, movies, and television shows. Another method is by increasing the number of police, prisons, and crime control programs. Laws can use be made to stop criminal behavior and lastly, the government can ensure that there is a fair distribution of economic resources in order to discourage people from resorting to illegal activities to earn a livelihood.
References
https://www.census.gov/en.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21997683/
