Integrated Criminological Theories and Labeling

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The ever evolving career field of criminal justice continues to be the back bone of the American society. Tasked with the investigating crimes, crime data, and criminals; these professionals set forth the standards that many law enforcement agencies use to establish profiles of criminal activity in their area. Over the course of history many criminologist have presented empirical data that has led to theories that law enforcement agencies at all levels use to profile criminals on a global front. Based on these theories established by past and present criminologist, these same law enforcement agencies use them to strategically plan operations based on certain demographic and psychological patterns of criminals. Below we'll discuss and summarize some of the most effective and well known criminal theories taught today.

The first theory we'll discuss is that of life course theory. Life course theory highlights the development of criminal careers, which are seen as the result of various criminogenic influences that affect individuals throughout the course of their lives (Schmalleger, 2009, p.321). In addition, this theory shows how positive and negative factors impact an adolescent that ultimately leads to deviant behavior as an adult. Unlike many traditional social theories that only look at those factors that lead to a life a crime, the life course theory examines specific obstacles that youth encounter and how they deal with it that greatly affects the course of their life. For example, control balance theory examines how deviance and crime result from either weak social bonds or low levels of self control only. Life course theory breaks it down to the adolescent cycle and establishes seven developmental tasks an adolescent must encounter and over come in order to become a good citizen and build strong family values. This major difference assists criminologist, counselors, law enforcement, and other agencies with the basic model to coach, mentor, and guide our youth in the right direction. These seven tasks also assist with identifying those adolescent that display the possibility to pursue a life of ...