Deviant Social Policy In Crime Study

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The field of criminology generally deals with criminology associated with the scientific study of different social behaviors, that have to do with causes of why certain individuals commit certain crimes. Criminologists basically research the why through the basis of psychological means as well as social means connected to the background of the individuals being studied. According to Schmalleger (2012), "there is a growing tendency,however, to reserve application of the term criminologists to academics, researchers, and policy analysts with advanced degrees who are involved in the study of crime and crime trends and in the analysis of societal reactions to crime" (p. 8). People engage in deviant acts because they have been labeled as deviant …show more content…

programs aimed at education, work and social participation should keep people away from deviancy and criminal careers. Given that common crime is usually associated with deprived and targeted groups, the unemployed, homeless, ethnic minority youths, and those living in deprived neighborhoods, implementing social policy should help a great deal in this area. According to Aykanian and Wonhyung, (2016), "although the criminal justice system is traditionally used to punish dangerous and predatory criminals, it can also be used to control the behavior of certain groups of people, including those experiencing homelessness. Efforts to use policing activities to target homeless people stem from centuries-old vagrancy laws used to manage or displace poor and socially detached individuals" (p. 183). Specific policies are determined by different social behaviors and means. According to Díez-Ripollés (2013), " Recent years have witnessed an increase in the focus upon comparative criminal justice policy studies by criminology and criminal law scholars. Not wholly removed from this is the fact that in industrialized countries criminal policy has become one of the most controversial public policy issues due to many factors. Social agents and pressure groups with very different origins and interests have become actively involved in national criminal policy reforms, thus giving rise to significant changes in crime control systems" (p.

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