The Top Five Theoretical Frameworks That Best Explain the Causes of Crime. Essay Example

Crime and deviance have no one cause, and they are a phenomenon that profoundly changes across ties and cultures. Cultural norms violation in either informal or formal context is the study of deviance. Alterations of these concepts are distinct because activities can be legal in one country, and in others, it is illegal, for example, in Muslim countries' strictness. Over time, cultures alter behaviors in some by becoming criminalized that were once not criminalized, like, in the United States, alcohol prohibition becomes decriminalized again. There are different causes for distinct types of crime and deviance, and that best explains these causes. Every society exists the phenomenon of deviance, corruption, and criminal behavior even in Las Cruces, and the use of social pressures in a social context can best explain the reasons for them. Critical theories that enlighten the grounds of crime, deviance, and behaviors towards them in a broader approach as sociological theories are left realism theory, right realism, social control theory, anomie or strain theory, and subcultural theory.

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Left Realism Theory

The branch of critical criminology left realism developed during the 1880s and was in the United States. The lives of the disadvantaged and the poor by the theory suggest that they are most disproportionately affected. Born during the years of Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Regan, left realism is essential now as it was during their times (DeKeseredy et al. 2006). The theory suggests that individuals in a similar group can see themselves as being unfairly disadvantaged in comparison to other people, therefore having criminal behavior causing deviance and crime in Las Cruces. Left realists address violence against women in relationships that are heterosexual, do draconian means of policing, and solve a street crime by publishing scholarly materials of deviance and dangerous crime in the compelling crimes, for instance, the corporate ones. The main reason for the theory was the focus of most critical criminologists before the 1980s, primarily on corporate and white-collar crimes' direction of justice by the stimulus of class and race relations for the meaning of it. For improvement of future crime in Las Cruces, left realism can warrant much more tension that is political with social science to overcome evil as essential topics. Empirically, the theory demonstrates that acknowledge of commitment for crime in several countries by powerless permits conservative politicians to making ideological backing for policies in law and order. They detriment the economically and socially disenfranchised based on social justice principles that preclude the advance of a society that is truly equal.

Additionally, the theory opposes legitimate, encourage of criminal behaviors by contact of frustration, disenfranchised individuals with others in means of resolving the issue of relative deprivation, and in turn, form subcultures. Individuals in denying for mainstream, especially the ghetto adolescents and the middle-class society, bear high value by receiving respect from peers; therefore, this can best explain reasons for criminal behaviors. However, inner-city subcultures often grant status and respect when there is a violent willingness by an individual. The theory left realism claims a lack of need for massive police presence in dealing with physical and social disorders. Many individuals view minor offenses as grossly unfair by the police for disenfranchised residents in the inner city in crackdowns such as panhandling and public drinking concerning the degree and seriousness of the crime.

A good example is for both the United Kingdom and North America left realists who theorize tactics for police being hard on minor issues to serve and alienate excluded urban communities politically, economically, and socially (Young, 1991). Individuals may withhold support of evidence to the police for a more serious crime in need of solving; therefore, there is a need to consider a public relationship with law enforcement for future relieves of it in Las Cruces. There is the support of other theories with left realism, such as anomie theory, with the unfair judgment of individuals or groups in comparison to others. Forming of groups relates to subculture theory when people share these experiences in which may feature violence and crime.

Right Realism Theory

People are seen as rational actors by this branch of criminology, whereby it includes choosing of commitment to crime because people are capable of creating their own choices. People in any progression of action weigh up the disadvantages of each act and the possible benefits. The theory emerged in the response of perceived failure in approaches of sociology for the rising crime rates and discourse of real causes of crime. The argument is essential to understand because it should inform the criminal justice policy in Las Cruces. Realists such as Charles Murray and James Wilson are prominent right realists that claim the criminological theory from political backgrounds for future dealing of crime (Young, 2003). The approach leads to policy initiatives for situational crime prevention by reducing the opportunities to commit a crime with a range of strategies in an umbrella term. The procedure, for instance, can include removing targets that are highly valued like jewels and cash, natural surveillance increase like street lighting improvement, and formal surveillance increase measures like alarms and CCTV. Realism writing is from a particular ideological position that attempts to get real issues in crime by both approaches politically right or left for treating the offense as a severe social problem.

The essential element of the theory is the individualization of crime as a matter of choice in choosing to obligate offense. Zero tolerance policing can reduce crime as a robust control measure for Las Cruce's fear of crime. An encounter of accessible opportunities for people motivates them to commit crimes since their view is opportunistic in their daily lives, with the likelihood of them committing more crime. The mechanism to lessen crime reports in 2014 by the Scottish Government included measures described above by considering situational crime prevention; therefore, Las Cruce's use of this approach should alleviate crimes (Levy et al. 2014). However, the situation approach is included in the report beyond extending restriction access to alcohol and weapons to encourage individuals to engage in investing pro-social activities that are diversionary, for instance, commitment in the sport rather than crime deeds. The theory as a branch of criminology emerges with one critical theory the rational choice theory. The method of logical choice, the relation to the right realism theory, is that people choose to commit a crime, but they decide on where and when to commit the crime with deviance.

Social Control Theory

The theory explains conformity by addressing crime with a focus on the reasons why individuals obey the law. An American scientist Travis Hirschi is primarily associated with the theory proposing for strong social bonds individuals generally conform to social norms (Hirschi, 1969). Conversely, when these bonds are weak or broken, people commit to delinquent acts. Social relationship's critical components, in theory, include belief, involvement, commitment, and attachment. The idea transmits to the upbringing of a person whereby they can get less involved in criminal activities if they have been conveyed up to be law-abiding. The component of involvement comes down to time; for instance, when people engage in law-abiding behavior, spending more time, they are less likely to break the law or commit to such practices. Commitment comes to lifestyle, and the more people commit to them, for example, having a job, being a parent, and engagement in marriage, the more they have to lose, therefore not becoming involved in a crime. Individual attachment by others with how strong or weak the relationship is, fosters ways that people engage in law. There is a strong expectation in stronger attachment, and people are more likely to conform, such as obeying the law.

The theory of social control is vital because it focuses on the creation of criminal motivation that criminal behavior requires. People form pro-social values that, in the temptation to engage in deviant acts, end up controlling their actions. The social bonds taken together indirectly controls behavior, and to check individuals' lives directly do not need to have these bonds. Instead, when the pro-social relationships formed are no longer there, they control their behavior (Hirschi, 1969). Typically, social conventions are the bonds that control the behavior mechanism of informal social control rather than laws that are formally adopted. Friendly social control keeps up behaviors in check as people age to adulthood by employment bonds and to children's parents play the vital part. Social control theory provides a new way of thinking with a new idea in the field of crime, making sense about criminal behavior for the case in Las Cruces. Hirschi's theory is equally vital to all methods of crime since it has altered the way criminologists do business by his attempt to disassemble significant opponents of the time and present his ideas.

Subcultural Theory

The subcultural theory comes from deviance since it results in belonging of a social group with the individuals conforming to norms and values; thus, people can become deviant if they fit a social group distinct with the central society norms. Albert Cohen's work is associated with status frustration by group offending through his research conduct of young lower-class men (Williams, 2011). The theory argues frustration to youths of the lower class, creating their value subcultural scheme because of rejection and lack of inspiration to the objectives of the middle-class cultural group. The schools, for instance, have the idea that is engaging in criminal activities such as acting in class and truanting meets respect and gain status by meeting peer's expectations rather than teachers. The youth have distinct norms and values, and they can achieve success in this subculture because of the social group. Criminal acts are highly valued in this culture and can lead to the condemned by society acts such as vandalism and stealing. The perspective of the subculture clarifies why individuals commit non-utilitarian crimes such as truancy and vandalism because they want to gain the respect that they lacked from mainstream society. There is no need for a monetary value for them to commit crimes because their reward is concerning the crimes they commit.

The theoretical framework of the theory helps in the understanding of failed criminal subculture to improve future crime in Las Cruces by the rise of some members' inability in the society to achieve success like the young people. They are given the name retreats subcultures and are seen as double failures in the community, making them in dealing with the fact retreat to alcohol abuse and drugs (Williams, 2011). Understanding that the young are the future generation will help create a meaningful subculture that cares for them, alleviating them from crime. Focal concerns are several things that people want to achieve, and they consist of excitement, smartness, and toughness. With enthusiasm, individuals search for thrills and pleasure in a culture that can often lead to adventures in alcohol and gambling.