Sociology of Crime and Punishment

Sociology of Crime and PunishmentFiguring out why people commit crime has always been the cardinal question in criminology. Over the years, a lot of sociologists have developed theories has to why people may commit crimes. Does society have anything to do with why someone commits a crime? Does having a mental diseases has any factor as to why people commit crime? Or could it just merely be because they wanted to? All of the questions run through a sociologists mind when trying to come to one concise manage. Unfortunately, there isnt just one answer to this question, rather there ar multiple factors that weigh into why someone may commit a crime. Elijah Anderson, Robert Merton and Walter Reckless, have all developed theories from their own personal research as to why people commit crime. In this paper I will talk about their theory and whether I agree or disagree with their theory.In Elijah Anderson, Code of the Street theory, code referring to a set of informal rules that influen ces someones public behavior, he categorizes people who live in the street and the meet families, to formulate a sense of inner-city life. The decent families argon elusive working, has mainstream values and instill them into their children, unlike the street families that are dysfunctional, and seems to have no interest in the childs life. Decent families, seems to be more civil, whereas the street families are angry and are aggressive with their children. These are the children that often use the term come up clayey when referring to their childhood. This then leads to the point that people who grew up in a street family foundation are more likely to commit crimes simply because their parents were not intricate in their life. They are also usually the child that hang out on the streets and stay out late. Whereas with decent families, children are taught to stay out of discomfit and has a curfew. Many of the children that grew up in street families, value respect and loyalty from others deep down the streets, and if they were to ever be tested they will retaliate with violence.Robert Mertons contrast theory, believes that society place a big part in a person becoming deviant. His theory stated that society places a big violence on the Ameri bottomland Dream and that we all have to attain it. This then places pressure on an individual in society to conform. Some people recognize whether to work hard to achieve those goals or become deviant in order to achieve those goals. Merton felt as though equal opportunity within society to achieve the American Dream was nonexistent, so resolve those strains, people adapt, or in other words Modes of Adaptation. According to Merton there are tail fin modes of adaptation, conformity, innovation, ritualism, and rebellion.Lastly, Walter Recklesss theory believed that there were forces that propel people to commit deviant activities. Such forces are pushes and pulls. Pushes would be psychological or social conditions and pulls are following lumberman delinquents. These would be considered two types of containment, outer and inner. Inner refers to self control, a sense of right or wrong and moral or religious beliefs. Outer refers to potent individuals, such as teachers and families as well as authorities. This then leads to the point of, the more likely someone is to conform to societys norms, the less likely they are to insert in deviant behaviors.Out of these three theories, the two main theories that were interesting were Elijah Andersons code of the street theory and Robert Mertons strain theory. In Andersons theory, he mentions that there are two types of families, which I agree with, but what I disagree with is that I dont believe that just because someone grew up in a street family home that they are more likely to commit crimes. For instance, I have heard of stories where the parents are well grounded and are well involved in their childs life, but and the child becomes a criminal. Other factors such as the child wanting to fit in with a specific crowd that they may consider cool, can have an influence on whether the child develop deviant behaviors to fit in within that group. And on the other hand, I have heard stories of children that grew up into a street family home and they chose a different path in life. They were motivated by their struggling situations, to work hard and pull themselves up by their boot straps, so that they can achieve greater things and become positive forces in society. Now Mertons theory, I seem to agree with completely. Societys emphasis on the American Dream and wealth, can become very strenuous on an individual. Especially because not all individuals can obtain it. People try so hard to conform to societys norms, that they sometimes dont rationalize that their way of conforming may be right or wrong, especially for the poor. This is why many of them resort to stealing and sell drugs.As like many other research, they can sometimes be biases. For example, both Merton and Anderson only looked at children or juvenile delinquents. Like I mentioned before, children are easily persuaded, they often do things to fit in. My question now is, if they were to take all other factors that children have to go through would their theory remain the resembling?

Hard Times :: Dickens Hard Times Essays

Hard Times   In this paper I would like to discuss the possibly doctors that this halt might have had on the world, the time around Charles dickens, and the fact that Charles Dickens paid close attention to the world around him.   Charles Dickens, born Charles John Huffman Dickens, was born on Feb. 7 1812 in Portsmouth where his father was a clerk at the Naval Pay Office. Four years later his family moved to Chatham and then later moved to London. In 1824 Charles Dickens father went to Debtors Prison. In 1833 Charles Dickens published his first story A Dinner at Poplar Walk. In 1838 one of Dickens more or less popular stories, Oliver Twist, was published in three volumes. In 1851 Charles Dickens father passed away. Next in 1861, another Dickens classic was published, Great Expectations. On June 9 Charles Dickens dies, at the age of fifty-eight. And was buried in Westminster Abbey.   This is the Penguin Classics version of Hard Times by Charles Dickens that has be e n edited by Kate Flint, who alike added the introduction. I was unable to find any information about the editor, other than her name. I believe that Charles Dickens books, this one included, have had a great affect on the world. Not only in the fact that or so of the books that he has written are considered to be classic or in the fact that well-nigh of these books are required reading in many high schools through out the U.S.. But also in the fact that I believe some of his books had an influence in the way the some of the laws in his time where formulated.   The way that Charles Dickens go about doing this is by writing about the social problems in spite of appearance the government or just problems with the way that thing are being done in general. One example that I have found was in chapter 11, page 77, and footnote number 8. The line says I ha coom to ask yo, sir, how I am to be ridded o this woman. When you look at the footnote it says that this line in the book is s peaking of a problem that was quite common during Charles Dickens time period. The problem that this line speaks of is that it was all but impossible for a person who was of write down class to get a divorce.

The United States and the Era of Imperialism Essay -- American History

The United States and the Era of ImperialismNever interfere with Europe was the let loose of the founding fathers. Our very first president, George Washington warned us not to overtake involved with foreign powers. The spirit at the time of our nations birth was isolationism. The infant United States of America could not afford to get its hand caught in the cookie jar of world affairs. As children grow they get stronger, and the growth of the United States was no different. By the end of the Civil War the United States had muscles to flex. At the time the world was enthralled in the Age of Imperialism, in which a nations power was derived from its overseas holdings. The United States, who had just proved that it could beat itself up, was not going to be excluded from imperialistic argue the world arena provided. So, the United States was ushered into the Era of Imperialism. There are several reasons why the United States sought to found an empire. For theses reasons, Ame rican began its divine quest. inaugural were the economic prospects of empire. There were several commercial and business interests involved with the American imperialist movement. Overproduction in America caused economic depressions. In vow to squirm these slumps, America needed new markets. Also, as American business join ond there was an ever-growing demand for raw materials. America glanced heavily at the potential of the farthest East, especially China, and its s come out of the closethern neighbor Latin America as a new market, and a source of raw materials. These are the economic factors that contributed to the make grow of American imperialism. For military and strategic reasons America needed to forge and empire. In 1890 Thomas Mahan published Influence of Sea Power upon History 1660 - 1783. In his concord Mahan pointed out that peachy Britains phenomenal growth as the world power was because of its unsurpassed naval power. America saw that in order to become a world power, it needed to expand its own navy. In order to maintain this new navy, America would also need to increase the number of harbors, refueling and repair stations, and trade ships around the globe. America also came to realize that the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans needed to be connected closer to home. This embossed the demand for an isthmian canal. These are the military and strategic exponents that sparked America to... ...rican interests abroad. Taft would use dollar diplomacy, and the Roosevelt Corollary in Nicaragua and other Latin American countries to further foster American business investments. The U.S. got a late start in the race for trading rights with China, and with the U.S. now in the Philippines, the race became economically crucial for America. By this time, Great Britain, France, Russia, Germany, and Japan claimed exclusive trading rights with China within their sphere of influence. Some, like Japan, even claimed parts of China as their own. In order to level out the playing field Secretary of State John Hay sent diplomatic dispatches to these nations, urging an Open Door Policy, in which there would be mate trading rights with China. All the dispatches came back to Hay with their corresponding nations endorsing the proposal. However, before the policy was enacted, the Chinese tried to expel the foreign devils from their homeland in what was to be called the bagger Rebellion. This nationalist rebellion was put down by an international police force including 2,500 U.S. troops. These actions of intervention in Latin America and China were part of American imperialism.

Is Slim handicapped - of mice and men :: essays research papers

Assessment Piece on OF Mice and MenSlim? Handicapped?I aint much good with one hand. I lost my hand right here at the ranch. You volition consider this as a handicapped person. What else will you include in this category? Mental disorder, parallelization, amputated, etc., everything that makes you depend on others or any other things including loneliness, emotionless, discriminated or anything that you can do only if there is something fillet you from what you want to do.This book, or novel should I say, is about loneliness, which is why every character in it faces this in some way or the other, in assorted and various circumstances. Loneliness is a sign or is handicap ness as well. Crook, the Negro stable buck, longs for justice and camaraderie. Candy was not lonely but was made when Carlson, the impassive freak, killed his train because he was old and worth nothing. Lennie and George were lucky in this matter. These two were all ways there for for each one other. They would keep each other out of loneliness. Curleys wife is very flirtatious. Wonder why? Her marriage to Curley, for her, was just a compromise that she had to do. Now its as if her vivification is not hers anymore. She is in search of friendship. We dont get to know about her main reason behind flirting so much until slow in the book. She is lonely and has been ditched by many men earlier. She has been used by them and now she wants to develop a serious relationship. Everyone in this book have diametric reasons and tribulations for their loneliness.America, at that time, was a very diverse mark to what it is now. Friends were not very common. People who stand out in the crowd are those that have friends. aint many guyz travel around together. Believe its because of the atmosphere they themselves have created and also because they are scared of each other.Candys dog is very precious to him, not only because he had been with him ever since he was a pup but also because he could see hims elf in the dogs place after a very short period of time. He was getting old and would be of no use soon. Just like the dog, everyone would be eagre to get rid of him. He had lost his hand at the ranch. He is disabled, both, physically and mentally.

How does ICT affect both family and society? :: ICT Essays

There may be a reduced number of manual(a) jobs. This is beca using upcomputers and machinery usher out be used instead. ICT allows you to work from home. This is an advantage of no travel and being able to live in any part of the country. There may be a reduction of jobs available because of the decreasein manual work. This would cause an increase in unemployment. The use of ICT gives the opportunity to work for yourself. It alsomakes it a lot easier than doing the work manually. There is the need to continually update prole skills, especiallythose who no longer spend year after year doing the same job. ICT can create new and interesting jobs. These can include jobs much(prenominal)as a computer programmer. This would also may work more enjoyable. With the increase in ICT there is the de-skilling or elimination ofsome office jobs.How pass on the new ICT system affect the family?A new ICT system is likely to affect the family in question, indifferent ways. However, it is likel y to make the life of these populationa lot easier and more manageable. It also allows you to be moreorganised.A Computer is especially helpful to school children and those whowork. This is because using a computer is slight time consuming, thancompared to the manually writing everything up. It therefore makeslife easier. Copies can be easily made meaning the family will nothave to spends hours upon end rewrite documents.A new ICT system would allow the family to have improvedcommunications around the world. The system would be equipped with theInternet and email service providers, such as Microsoft Outlook andLycos. These facilities would allow the family to communicate with therest of the world more easily. MSN messenger would be useful tochildren in the family and would also be convenient for work.The use of email is both quicker and more convenient than writing aletter. You can receive many attachments that you may have sentyourself or early(a) people have sent. Email is a r easonably secure wayof communication because you need a password to access your account.It is also useful because you can access your email from any server.You can also keep in contact with the family, no matter how far awaythey live.The family would have access to intelligence information on everyday events etc, via theInternet search engines and encyclopaedias.A new ICT system would allow the family to produce documents,databases, images, recordings etc. This is a lot less stressful than

The Great Masculine Renunciation Essay -- French Revolution Fashion Cl

The Great Masculine debunkingAt the end of the eighteenth century there was one of the about significant events in the history of dress. Men gave up their right to all the bright, more elaborate, and more varied forms of clothing. They unexpended all that to the women. Men abandoned their have to be considered beautiful. They, instead, aimed at being useful in society. Those who have studied the situation all agree that the causes for these changes were generally of political and social nature. The also believed that in their origin the causes were associated with the great social upheaval of the French Revolution. One of the purposes of decorative dress was to emphasize distinctions of rank and wealth. These distinctions, however, were among the chief of those that the French Revolution, with its slogan of Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, aimed at abolishing. thither were, particularly, two ways in which these new reportls tended to produce a simplification in the dres s of the male sex. First, the idea of the brotherhood of musical composition was obviously not going to work with clothing, which by their very nature, emphasized the differences in wealth and station between one man and another. The tendency to greater simplification was strongly reinforced by a second aspect of the general change that the Revolution implied. Work had now change by reversal more respectable. A major spokesperson of such changes was the change in mens pants. Previously mens pants were lighter colors, and the pant... The Great Masculine Renunciation Essay -- French Revolution Fashion Cl The Great Masculine RenunciationAt the end of the 18th century there was one of the most significant events in the history of dress. Men gave up their right to all the bright, more elaborate, and more varied forms of clothing. They left all that to the women. Men abandoned their claim to be considered beautiful. They, instead, aimed at being useful in society. Those who have studied the situation all agree that the causes for these changes were primarily of political and social nature. The also believed that in their origin the causes were associated with the great social upheaval of the French Revolution. One of the purposes of decorative dress was to emphasize distinctions of rank and wealth. These distinctions, however, were among the chief of those that the French Revolution, with its slogan of Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, aimed at abolishing. There were, particularly, two ways in which these new ideals tended to produce a simplification in the dress of the male sex. First, the idea of the brotherhood of man was obviously not going to work with clothing, which by their very nature, emphasized the differences in wealth and station between one man and another. The tendency to greater simplification was powerfully reinforced by a second aspect of the general change that the Revolution implied. Work had now become more respectab le. A major example of such changes was the change in mens pants. Previously mens pants were lighter colors, and the pant...

Capital Punishment :: essays research papers

Many people are split on the idea of seat of govern custodyt penalization because it involves devastation. I feel that capital punishment is morally and ethically acceptable because it rids society of our worst criminals. Many people argue that bucking criminals who kill is well(p) as bad as being the criminals. For one the criminals killed innocent people who had no idea what was coming, and had no way to prevent it. The criminal who trusted the crime in almost all cases had to commit first degree murder, which includes some planning of the act. To plan an act of murder and taking someones support is beyond emotion, it is psychological and takes some rationalization. If no rationalization takes place, then it can happen again. Another reason that pro-capital punishment argument is that there are innocent men and women sitting on death row that shouldnt be sentenced to death. Most death row inmates, unless they commit a serious multiple murder confirm been in and out of shu t away most of their life. Capital Punishment is a way for society to weed out the bad seeds that corrupt the whole. Personally I think they should be castrated, or not have a conjugal visits. Having people like that procreate makes me sick. Someone who has taken someones mightiness to procreate and enjoy life should be treated if they had killed themselves that day. I also think that multiple rapists should be put to death. If they are given a panorama to put their life unneurotic and they commit the same crime again then, rehabilitation was unsuccessful and they should be terminated. This whitethorn sound like a Nazi speaking of the Jews in the archean 1930s, but they based the killing on a religion, not on a case by case basis, as we do in this country. Our sound system is ment to rid society of evil, and by killing the murderers and rapists it clears them out of the genetic pool and also gives an example to others of what not to do. Although it may seem cruel to consistentl y kill people based on one act in their life, it is justifiable because those people have the potential to kill again, and if they are going to cut someone they should be kept from society.Capital Punishment essays research papers Many people are split on the idea of capital punishment because it involves death. I feel that capital punishment is morally and ethically acceptable because it rids society of our worst criminals. Many people argue that killing criminals who kill is just as bad as being the criminals. For one the criminals killed innocent people who had no idea what was coming, and had no way to prevent it. The criminal who commited the crime in almost all cases had to commit first degree murder, which includes some planning of the act. To plan an act of murder and taking someones life is beyond emotion, it is psychological and takes some rationalization. If no rationalization takes place, then it can happen again. Another reason that pro-capital punishment argument i s that there are innocent men and women sitting on death row that shouldnt be sentenced to death. Most death row inmates, unless they commit a serious multiple murder have been in and out of jail most of their life. Capital Punishment is a way for society to weed out the bad seeds that corrupt the whole. Personally I think they should be castrated, or not have a conjugal visits. Having people like that procreate makes me sick. Someone who has taken someones ability to procreate and enjoy life should be treated if they had killed themselves that day. I also think that multiple rapists should be put to death. If they are given a chance to put their life together and they commit the same crime again then, rehabilitation was unsuccessful and they should be terminated. This may sound like a Nazi speaking of the Jews in the early 1930s, but they based the killing on a religion, not on a case by case basis, as we do in this country. Our legal system is ment to rid society of evil, and by k illing the murderers and rapists it clears them out of the genetic pool and also gives an example to others of what not to do. Although it may seem cruel to systematically kill people based on one act in their life, it is justifiable because those people have the potential to kill again, and if they are going to hurt someone they should be kept from society.