Posted: August 1st, 2023

Using one of the Neo-Classical theories

Using one of the Neo-Classical theories, discuss what type of crime would most likely be deterred from happening and how best to achieve this deterrence.

Use evidence from at least two scholarly or peer-reviewed sources to support your position. Cite in Help write my thesis – APA format in your discussion.
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Institution

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The contemporary deterrence perspective is currently the most dominant philosophy applied in the American criminal justice system. The neoclassical ideology replaced the classical ideology of crime deterrent since it incorporated positivist approaches for identifying causes of criminal behavior and implementing deterrent mechanisms. The neoclassical theory establishes that criminal behavior is caused by several factors, including the individual’s environment, societal issues, psychology, and other conditions. The theory also ascertains that the people tend to experience punishment in different ways, therefore encouraging other mechanisms of conducting punishment that differ from those provided in classical theory (Fedorek, n.d). This paper provides an analysis of Rational Choice Theory, which is one of the neoclassical theories. The types of crimes that would mostly be deterred from happening and how the deterrence can best be achieved using the rational choice theory are discussed.
According to Cornish and Clarke (1986), the rational choice theory is based on the freedom people have in choosing their behavior. The authors state that crime offenders evaluate the costs and benefits associated with the intended crime to consider the ability of the action to produce advantage, maximize pleasure and happiness, and minimize pain. The theory offers a micro perspective on why people decide to commit crimes, including the expected reward, satisfaction, fun, and ease of conducting the activity. Therefore, it is expected that an individual is likely to commit a crime when given the opportunity. However, the reasoning criminal before committing the crimes evaluates the changes being caught, the expected penalty severity, and the value gained by committing the crime. When the offender considers the action being too risky, the costs of committing the crime being too high, or the value gain too small, they will likely evade engaging in the act.
The types of crimes that would likely be deterred using the rational choice perspective include instrumental crimes, such as property theft and drug offenses. Both property theft and drug offenses are crimes that are committed based on the opportunity. The offenders in property and drug offenses when in the opportunity to conduct the crime usually evaluates the risks and benefits associated with the act. For instance, if the act possesses a high likelihood of being captured and face severity punishment, they will likely refrain from conducting the activity. Most property offenders’ opportunity is associated with unlocked windows or doors, areas that are secluded, and property that is unsupervised. The drug offenders on their part are enticed by locations that tend not to be monitored by law enforcement officers and locations where they can clearly see anyone approaching. Other types of offenses that can be deterred using the rational choice theory include acts of violence, robberies, and sex-trade offenders.
To ensure the rational nature of the crime does not occur, the rational choice theory provides that reducing the criminal opportunity will deter the acts. The reduction of criminal opportunity can be conducted by increasing the number of guardians, which increases the probability of being caught hence deterring offenders from conducting the act. The other approach that could be used in reducing criminal opportunity is by decreasing the suitability of targets or by reducing the population of offenders. Since offenders depend on rational calculation before committing the act, the use of aggressive law enforcement that increases the chances of being apprehended, swift justice, and severe punishment is considered to deter offenders. Therefore increasing the offending sanctions and reducing the opportunity enables a threshold to be attained, whereby engaging in offending acts is not beneficial, hence minimizing the ability of instrumental crimes to occur.
References
Cornish, D.B., & Clarke, R.V. (1986). Crime as a rational choice. In R.V. Clarke and D.B. Cornish, The reasoning criminal. New York, NY: Springer-Verlag.
Fedorek, B. (n.d). Neoclassical. Open Oregon. Retrieved from https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/ccj230/chapter/4-5/
Queen’s Printer for Ontario. (2016). Review of the Roots of Youth Violence: Literature Reviews. Vol 5, Chap 3. Retrieved from http://www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/professionals/oyap/roots/volume5/chapter03_rational_choice.aspx

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