Choice Theory Of Crime

Choice theory “ The view that crime is a function of a decision making- process in which the potential offender weigh the potential cost and benefits of an illegal act ” (P 84). I chose this topic because some people may say that offenders don’t have a choice when it comes to crime because they are brought up into it and it is all they know. Just because they are brought up in crime doesn’t mean they cannot turn it down they choose to sit there and engage in the criminal act.

An Italian social thinker Cesare Beccario developed the Choice theory. His utilitarian approach powerfully influenced the criminal justice system and was widely accepted throughout Europe. By the 19th century its popularity started to decline (P. 84). Beginning in the late 1960, Criminologist once again began to embrace classical ideas, producing books and monographs expounding the theme that criminals are rational actors who plan their crimes, can be controlled by the fear of punishment, and deserve to be penalized for their misdeeds (P. 84).

Rational choice theory directly evolved from classical theory which is a theory of crime suggesting that criminal behavior is a matter of personal choice, made after the individual considers its cost and benefits, and that the criminal behavior reflects the needs of the offender. It focuses on internal and external factor- poverty, IQ Education, rather than personal choice and decision-making.

Choice theory breaks down the process of how a criminal makes choices by understanding there thought, like If they stand a good chance of getting caught and being punished. They fear the consequences of the punishment, the risk of losing respect of their peers, damaging their reputations, they make sure the risk of apprehension ...

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...out criminals because you have to kind of understand people’s train of thought or how they perceive things to be. Offenders almost always consider the consequence when they do the crime especially professional criminals if they thought they were going to be caught they would have never wen through with the crime only if there was one part of their plan they stupidly did not cover. Cops tend to do that a lot think like a offender to make an arrest or if they were a offender where would they have hid the drugs, money, and guns. Every offender doesn’t consider every crime punishment bad in their eyes if they do a crime and get caught they may not care because one of their friends may have gotten apprehended for the same crime and only did a couple of months, what they don’t now is if they get caught the crime could be punishable for a longer time than their friend got.