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Theories of Crime by Criminologists

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Theories of Crime

Imagine you are a criminologist. Select one of the following crimes: school violence, robbery, murder, driving under the influence (DUI), or retail theft (shoplifting).

Create a 3- to 4-page report in a Microsoft Word document that includes the responses to the following:
•Using one of the following theories of crime causation; Strain, Rational Choice and Labeling, explain why your selected crime occurs.
•Explain why your selected theory explains the criminal activity. Does it explain all occurrences of this crime? Why or why not?
•Explain how you would empirically test your selected criminological theory to see if the theory proved correct. Provide a detailed account for your testing method.
•Describe the steps you can take, or program you can create, to address the causes behind the criminal activity and reduce its occurrence.

Support your responses with examples. I want to use murder as the crime and the Rational choice and labeling as the theories of crime causation.

Cite any sources in APA format.

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Solution Summary

Theories of crime by criminologists are examined. Causation for strain, rational choice and labeling is examined.

Solution Preview

Create a 3- to 4-page report in a Microsoft Word document that includes the responses to the following:
•Using one of the following theories of crime causation; Strain, Rational Choice and Labeling, explain why your selected crime occurs.

Murder is a crime that typically involves individuals who know each other wherein intimate relationships exist and the person typically commits a homicide because of some type of emotional trigger that causes the person to commit this crime. In addition, most murders are committed by people of the same race, which means that whites mostly kill whites, Blacks mostly kill Blacks, etc. Therefore, to understand murder, you have to understand Strain theory. Rational choice and Labeling theory cannot sufficiently explain why people commit murder. Rational choice entails a person who is conscientious in reference to the choices they make, and this typically doesn't apply to murders unless there is malice aforethought and the person has committed the murder based on premeditation. Although people do commit murder based on this reason, it is not the common cause for why murders occur. Labelling theory is based on the viewpoint that society places labels on people, and because of these labels, people engage in self-fulfilling prophecies that result in criminal behavior.

Therefore, if someone is labelled a thug or criminal, they engage in behavior that will likely result in another person being killed such as robbery, gang activity, and other forms of violent behavior. This theoretical framework is contingent upon the belief that labels drive crime. It is not accurate for murder in my opinion as it lacks the sufficient detail to explain why people commit murder. In contrast, Strain theory is an excellent theoretical framework to help explain most murders as most murders are a result of strain or stress that is exacerbated to an extent that the person decides that murder is the option for their stress.

•Explain why your selected theory ...

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