Crime depends on age
By: Ma. Cecilia Ericka S. Barairo
III- AB Psychology
AGE & CRIME
•
Age and Crime
– Criminologists Travis Hirschi and Michael Gottfredson: “age is
everywhere correlated with crime. It’s effects on crime do not depend on
other demographic correlates of crime”
– In every country, race, ethnic culture, marital and economic status,
younger people are more likely to commit crime
– This correlation is very important because certain sociological theories
about crime and age fail to adequately explain the “aging out” process
which refers to the statistics of crime rates dropping with age
– The likelihood of a long term criminal career may be determined by the
age at which the offending commences
• I.e.: an early onset of criminal activity sets the stage for chronic
offending
– Other theories about crime and age believe the correlation varies
depending on the offence and the offender
Why Does Aging Out Occur?
• There is a general consensus that aging out does occur, and is also
stable across country, race, ethnic background etc
• One view holds that, as troubled youths age they are able to develop a
long term life view and resist the need for immediate gratification
• Gordon Trasler (criminologist) found that youths considered unlawful
activity “fun” however , according to him, these delinquents will
actually “grow out” of this mentality
• James Wilson and Richard Hernstein argue that the aging out process
is a function of the natural history of human development. They argue
that as young teenagers are becoming increasingly independent, they
are becoming less attached to adults whom endorse conventional
morality, and become more involved with peers who are also frustrated
and deviant. As you continue to age, and arrive at adulthood one
develops the ability to delay gratification and resist criminal activity
Gender and Crime
• How can the gender differences in the crime rate
be explained?
– Early criminologists suggested that some women
lacked typical female traits such as piety, maternity,
intelligence and weakness (Lombroso)
– This theory became known as the masculinity
hypothesis
– Although these theories seem andocentric, the use of
trait theories is still used in many criminological theory
today
The Conflict View of Crime
• Conflict criminologists often compare and contrast the
harsh penalties exacted on the poor for their “street crime”
(i.e.: break and enter, robbery, larceny etc) with the minor
penalties wealthy criminals receive for the “white collar
crimes” such as illegal business practices, and security
violations.
• The poor to go prison for minor violations, while the rich
are given very lenient sentences for some very serious
offenses.
• Many conflict criminologists, began to view the criminal
justice system as a mechanism to control the lower classes
and maintain status quo – rather than practicing fair and
equal justice
Problems with Conflict Theory
• To accept the conflict perspective, we must learn
to reject the consensus view of the criminal justice
system –that it is NOT representative of the values
of the majority of citizens but rather the interests
of the wealthiest groups
• Some criminologists view this theory as naïve,
suggesting that crime is actually a matter of
rational choice made by offenders motivated by
greed rather than poverty and helplessness
• Others point to data which indicates only a weak
relationship between crime and economic factors
Rethinking Criminal Justice
• Minorities tend to be disproportionately represented (issue of racial
profiling)
• The 1995 Report on Systemic Racism in Ontario’s Criminal Justice
System indicated that Blacks and aboriginal peoples are much more
likely to end up in prison
• There are 827 prison admissions per 100 000 of the total population
• The rate for blacks was 3686
• First Nations, 1993
• Caucasian, 706
• Asians, 353
• In 1993 Blacks constituted 7.1 percent of Ontario’s prison population
while only comprising about 3 percent of the total population
The Problem with Crime Statistics:
• This data is often manipulated by governmental institutions
and various media organizations
• The collection and composition of crime statistic is fraught
with several deficiencies, which ultimately brings their
accuracy and effectiveness into question
• Crime is socially constructed, meaning certain actions are
perceived to be deviant, and others are not
• Consequently, police officers and victims utilize discretion
when determining whether an offence is serious or
“worthy” of being reported or recorded, which affects the
overall crime rate