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Implications of social learning theory
Social Learning Theory
Social learning theory case study
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1. Examine your personal life course. What turning points did you experience that led to where you are today. As part of this response pls identify a criminological theory which best helps describe and or explain your unique experiences.
I believe the criminological theory that best describes how I got where I am today is the social learning theory. Social learning theory “is based upon the role of observation and the mimicking or imitating of behaviours observed in others, usually referred to as models (“Social Learning Theory,” 2009). I am lucky that I have had a lot of advantages in my life that many people were not given, mainly the two best models I could ever ask for. When I was very young my family was very poor, my dad was trying
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Throughout my life the lessons I learned from watching my parents have stuck with me. I worked throughout my entire college career, and my junior and senior year I worked full time, not because I needed to but because that is what I wanted to do. I have a very hard time staying idle. I rarely sit still for longer than a couple hours. Today I work full time, go to graduate school part-time and volunteer a 20-30 hours a week for a dog rescue. Social learning theory links a person’s environment, behavior, and internal composition (Thompson 2013). I believe that I inherited genes that lead me to be driven and able to stay focused on a goal from my parents. That partnered with my internal desire to be the best at everything I do, as well as being raised in safe and secure environment that valued and rewarded hard work and accomplishment has led to be the person I am today. My parents gave me many positive things to model and to learn through observational learning, which is very important as a child (Thompson …show more content…
The laws require the offender to register an address and provide law enforcement with other identifying information, as well as allowing the general public access to the information of a registered sex offender (Prescott 2012). They idea behind these laws is to help protect the community from potential threats, and to warn potential victims. I believe that in theory this is a good idea. The sex offender allows law enforcement to know the address for sex offenders who are likely to re-offend, and warns the public that there are potentially dangerous people in their area. It could be a good tool for people who want to set up a camp, or have an in home daycare of individuals that should not being showing interest in the children in their care. While it is best practice to supervise children, and to teach them about dangers without having to know specific individuals that are a risk, having that information could save the life of the child. However, it is also potentially hurting the offender that has already paid their debt to
The following research will display an overview of the process in Texas on how sex offenders are registered along with the notifications that are followed after registration. Texas, as many other states, has a procedure which requires sex offenders to register with the local law enforcement agencies at the time of their discharge. In addition to registration, they must also comply with further probation regulations. Research has concluded that there are four basic phases of registration and notification. Beginning with offender notified, following the offender registration and community notified and ending with public notification
In 1994, twice-convicted sex offender Jesse Timmendequas raped and murdered Megan Kanka, a seven-year old girl who lived across the street. In reaction to this emotionally-charged crime, Megan's home state of New Jersey ratified a community notification bill - dubbed "Megan's Law" - just three months later. This fall, a national version of the law went into effect, mandating that all fifty states notify citizens in writing of the presence of convicted sex offenders within their communities. Certainly, society has a responsibility to protect children from sex offenders, and many feel that Megan's Law is the best course of action. However, others feel that it is an unwarranted intrusion into the rights to privacy of individuals who have already paid their debts to society.
Some major reasons to keep sex offender notification laws in place are the fear factor of citizens, parents having the right to know in order to protect their children, and hopes for a reduction in the recidivism. The fear of offenders coming back into society without being supervised and not knowing what could happen is terrifying to many, especially parents who just want to protect their children. Others have high hopes that someday the recidivism, even though it is not high, will still reduce as time continues with the laws in effect. On the other end of the spectrum, other people believe that these laws are entirely too much and are unnecessary. Reasons to eliminate these laws include, continued punishment, difficulty returning to society, the fact that recidivism is extremely low compared to other offenses, and there is little evidence that shows the laws make society safer.
It is estimated that approximately 3% of the offenders who are currently incarcerated will likely commit another sexual-related crime upon release (Park & Lee, 2013, p. 26). There are several laws that have been in place regarding sexual offenses for decades, including Megan’s Law, which was enacted in 1996. The federal Megan’s Law establishes three specific conditions. The first condition required information from state sex offender registries to be distributed publicly so that all community citizens have access to it. The second condition requires any information collected by registration programs within the state to be released for any reason given that it is allowed under the state law.
Akers, R, & Sellers, C. (2009). Criminological theories: introduction, evaluation, and application. New York: Oxford University Press, USA.
In an article on www.canada.com, the many flaws in the registry are clearly outlined. For starters, it is not mandatory to register and the RCMP “believe that some dangerous offenders are falling through the cracks”, it’s simple, make registration mandatory for offenders 18 years of age and up. Police seem to find it difficult to even keep track of those registered, probably because offenders do not have to notify them of trips consisting of two weeks or less. The police are not even allowed to access the registry until charges have been laid, they may not access it on any suspicions. For example, if a citizen were to report a suspicious character lurking around an elementary school quite frequently, the police would not be allowed to use the registry in order to find out whether that individual is a registered sex offender or not.
Most states require that anyone convicted of a sex crime must register as a sexual offender in the National Sex Offender Registry. Registering in the sex offender registry could potentially be detrimental to...
Sex offender legislation has been encouraged and written to protect the community and the people at large against recidivism and or to help with the reintegration of those released from prison. Nevertheless, a big question has occurred as to if the tough laws created help the community especially to prevent recidivism or make the situation even worse than it already is. Sex offenders are categorized into three levels for example in the case of the state of Massachusetts; in level one the person is not considered dangerous, and chances of him repeating a sexual offense are low thus his details are not made available to the public (Robbers, 2009). In level two chances of reoccurrence are average thus public have access to this level offenders through local police departments in level three risk of reoffense is high, and a substantial public safety interest is served to protect the public from such individuals.
Sex-offenders have to attend treatment, can be put on electronic monitor, submit to a polygraph test, give probation officer home address, register as a sex-offender, and has to let the Department of Public Safety know if they move or change their address. There is no drinking or drugs, they may have to give up their computers, tell sex partners about their history, and some even chemically castrated. Sex-offenders may have more than two probation officers or parole officers. An unit team will monitor and help to rehabilitate the offender. The sex-offender will have a curfew and have to pay fines and restitution.
There have been some concerns about the registration and notification laws on sex offenders. Some of the concerns raised in respect to Megan’s law are the prospects of vigilantism when members of the community learn about the presence of a sex offender and decide to drive the sex offender out of the community or cause physical harm to the individual. There are also concerns that the availability of information has affected the re integration of sex offenders into the community as such information affects their employability status. Additionally, the costs used in maintaining the information required by Megan’s laws have increased exponentially and such costs may not be practical.
The lack of opportunities to secure housing and employment and loss of family and friend support are all consequences of community notification. More than one third of registrants surveyed in a study reported they had lost a job, been denied a place to live and been harassed and treated rudely in public as a result of public knowledge of sex offender registers. Offenders are more likely to be driven underground when they are unable to secure employment or a place to live due to their status on the sex offender register. Employers are less likely to employ a sex offender due to fear of losing business from an informed public. These issues on top of the stress of being released from prison and trying
Some people might say that if a sex offender does their time in jail that is enough punishment. Others may disagree and say that more action needs to be taken because of stories like the little girl Megan Kanka, who was raped and killed by a sex offender. A sex offender who her parents were unaware of because there was no rule or law that stated anyone else needed to know. Soon after this incident happened, some states passed laws that required local communities to be notified when a convicted sexual offender moved to a specific area. These laws are different in every state. In some, the state requires that convicted sex offenders put up signs in the windows of their homes, so that the neighbors can be aware that a crime has been committed by that person. Some offenders are even required to send postcards to their neighbors, informing them of their crime. These specific states would like the neighbors to be aware of who is living near them. Almost as a “beware” so that they can take action by telling their children to stay away from the sex offenders. The internet also provides extremely convenient websites that allow users to locate addresses and photographs of the offender. The websites also include reasons why the offender was convicted. One of the reasons some say that the laws are too strict on sex offenders is because of people like the woman that actually lived with a sex offender. She was upset because she said he had already served his time and it was unfair to tell everyone in their neighborhood that he had committed that crime. Some of these offenders may constitute an unfair punishment, especially if they are the low-risk, one time offenders who have possibly learned their lesson the first time. It may be unfair becaus...
One of the biggest concerns of criminology is the reason why the criminals commit the crimes that they do. Whether it’s due to a mental disease or genetics. Even if the criminal is healthy and has been planning it for months analyzing the consequences and results. Could the society that the criminal has grown up in ever be at fault causing him to act the way he or she did? People have been trying to find the reason that criminals commit these crimes for many years, and the numbers of theories that have been come up with looks to be the same number of criminologists. A criminologist is “one who studies the biological and sociological causes and consequences of crime and criminal behavior (such as the effects of mental defects and social environment).” Their job is to figure out why criminals acted the way they did and how to change the person in order to not repeat it, in other words rehabilitate them. Rehabilitation teaches the prisons to live a better life when let out instead of being punished in prison. When a criminal commits a crime the reason for the action is a very important part of the case and after the prisoner is behind bars, then they can find a solution for the crime to not be repeated by the same convict.
of Sex Offenders Via the Internet. The John Marshal Journal of Computer and Information Law
Sex Offenders Sex offenders are very dangerous and they are people that are not to be messed with. There are sex offenders out there that cannot control themselves, therefore they get put in jail for crime. Sex offenders should have their addresses publicized because it helps the people out there know where they live, it narrows down the sex offenders that are still out there so they can be put in jail and it will let people know that people know that they too can catch these sex offenders that are still out there. First, people should always know when there is a criminal living near their house.