Causation of Crime

Causation of Crime

Causation of Crime


    The two theories I chose are the Choice Theory and the Life Course Theory. The Choice Theory is that a person chooses to do crime. They weigh the benefits of the crime against the cost of the crime. If they believe the benefits are great enough the person will more than likely commit the crime. They like the rush that comes with committing a crime.
    The Life Course Theory practitioners believe that lying, stealing, bullying, and other conduct problems that occur in childhood are the strongest predictors of future criminal behavior. There most pressing question for them is whether early misbehavior necessarily leads to a life of crime, or whether it can be used as a warning signal to prevent such a future from taking place.

Age and Crime: The Peak Years

    Criminal behavior seems to peak during the teenage years: for most offenses, rates are at their highest around ages seventeen and eighteen (a few years later for violent crimes). Criminal activity declines as a person grows older, former delinquents are no longer involved in crime by the time they reach twenty-eight. Physical abilities peak with high levels of testosterone, which increases levels of aggression and violence. They are more susceptible to peer pressure and to sociological and social process theories of crime are backed by studies showing that juvenile delinquents tend to socialize with other juvenile delinquents.
    I couldn’t find information on youth crime statistics for the State of Arizona or for the City of Phoenix. I have found District crime information for Phoenix but that doesn’t have any information on youth crimes. I have searched the ask.com engine and the google.com search engine but couldn’t find anything for Phoenix.
    Statistics show that youths under eighteen have a tendency to do more property crimes then violent crimes. Between the ages of   eighteen and twenty-four they are neck and neck in the voilent crime and property...