Assignment:
Theories of Criminal Behavior and Criminal Justice Policies
Over the past 5 weeks of the course, you examined the causes of criminal behavior in the Keen family. As you did so, you probably realized that criminal behavior is a complex phenomenon for which there is no singular cause. As more is learned about why individuals commit crime, the criminal justice system must adapt accordingly to more effectively prevent and minimize criminal behavior.
In this final week of the course, you consider what you have learned about the causes of criminal behavior and the degree to which criminal justice practices and policies are sufficient for addressing criminal behavior.
Discussion: Root Causes of Criminal Behavior and Criminal Justice Policies
Sometimes there is a disconnect between the root causes of a problem and a solution. For example, in the medical field, a doctor may find it easier to treat the symptoms rather than the root cause of an illness, in which case the illness will persist. The same can be true in the criminal justice field. Criminal behavior is a symptom that often is "treated" with incarceration and community supervision, but the root causes of criminal behavior (e.g., poor parenting, moral disengagement, substance abuse) may not be addressed.
For this Discussion, you reflect on the theories you studied throughout the course, each proposing different root causes of criminal behavior. How well do criminal justice practices and policies acknowledge those causes?
Based on what you have learned about the root causes of criminal behavior, respond to the following question:
1. Do current criminal justice policies and practices address the root causes of crime? If not, what changes would you recommend?
2. Use one example from the case study you followed in this course to show how a different policy or practice may have changed an outcome in that case.