Criminology Theories and Policies

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Donald R. Cressey, (1954) explains differential association theory as, “the hypothesis is that criminality is learned from observations of definitions favorable to law violation, the learning including both the techniques of committing crime and the "specific direction of motives, drives, rationalizations and attitudes." The ratio between such definitions and others unfavorable to law violation determines whether or not a person becomes criminal.” It is safe to assume that if criminality is learned through observation, so can the ability to resist crime. D.A.R.E. gives children the self-esteem they need to be able to turn down the proposal to use or sell drugs without feeling they are missing out on anything important. They will grow to know that their self-worth is more than any drug dealer could ever offer them.

As you can see, many policies that are in affect today are highly motivated by different criminological theories. Graffiti reduction programs rely heavily on neutralization theory in the fact that it will help teach community members to be proud of their work in more healthy formats. One example we discussed is painting murals with paint and paintbrushes so that the entire neighborhood can enjoy. Neighborhood watch programs and routine activities theory go hand in hand. By eliminating the lack of protection preventing crime, neighborhood watch is preventing crime itself. D.A.R.E. is heavily influenced by differential association theory. By educating children about the crime, we are in fact helping to prevent future crimes from happening.

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References

Boundless (November 14, 2014). Differential Association Theory. [ONLINE] Available at:

https://www.boundless.com/sociology/textbooks/boundless-sociology-textbook/deviance-social-control-and-crime-7/the-symbolic-interactionalist-perspective-on-deviance-64/differential-association-theory-381-8939/. [Last Accessed April 22, 2015].

CrimeSolutions.gov (n.d.). Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE). [ONLINE] Available at:

http://www.crimesolutions.gov/ProgramDetails.aspx?ID=99. [Last Accessed April 22, 2015].

Donald R. Cressey, (1954). Differential Association Theory and Compulsive Crimes,

The.Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology. 45 (1), pp.29

Heith Copes, (November 2010). Neutralization Theory. Criminology.

Keep America Beautiful, Inc. (2015). GRAFFITI PREVENTION: BEST PRACTICES

FOR COMMUNITIES. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.graffitihurts.org/community/bestpractices.jsp. [Last Accessed April 21, 2015].

National Sheriff's Association (n.d.). National Neighborhood Watch Program. [ONLINE]

Available at: http://www.sheriffs.org/content/national-neighborhood-watch-program. [Last Accessed April 21, 2015].

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York, NY: Anderson Publishing.

USLegal, Inc (n.d.). Routine-Activities Theory [Criminology] Law & Legal Definition.

[ONLINE] Available at: http://definitions.uslegal.com/r/routine-activities-theory-criminology/. [Last Accessed April 22, 2015].

Werner J. Einstadter, Stuart Henry, (2006). 'Social Process Theories I'. In: Rowman & Littlefield

Publishers, Inc (ed), Criminological Theory: An Analysis of its Underlying Assumptions. 2nd ed. Oxford, UK: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. pp.197.