Rational Choice Theory: How To Deter Individuals From Committing Crimes

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Chapter three mainly focuses in on how to deter individuals from committing crimes. I see it as individuals can commit crimes as much as they choose to, but are they willing to deter themselves from those crimes? Some may be willing to change their ways, but for others, it gives them the adrenaline to continue this process. The next thought that comes to my mind is: What benefits are coming to an individual who constantly commits crimes? What I can see happening to the individual is that they will get in trouble for the crime they have committed and start to think if what they did was actually right or wrong to them.
Rational choice theory is something that I have learned in much detail from a previous class. According to the book, it states, “Rational choice theory is a perspective that criminologists adapted from economists, who used it to explain a variety of individuals decisions regarding a variety of behaviors”(Tibbetts). One person that could relate to this …show more content…

The statement I could agree on is: “Offenders who are in prison for the rest of their lives cannot commit more crimes on the streets” (Tibbetts). The only thing that I would have an opinion about is would the three strike policy work for everyone? I can understand that if an offender is in prison then they wouldn't commit any crimes on the streets, but would the three strike policy still occur if they were to commit a crime while in prison? There are a few people that I know who has been to prison and committed crimes while being there. For example, they would do some harm to an officer or another prisoner. If the offender has two strikes as it is, what would really count as their third strike? The reason I state this question is because the streets may be the worse place for offenders, but prison does not make it any better. Even though every state has different laws; it could possibly change in the long

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