Theories Of Crime: Your City Has A Large Shopping Mall

Theories Of Crimeyour City Has A Large Shopping Mall With An Attached

The scenario describes a large shopping mall with an attached underground parking garage experiencing an increase in automobile thefts, break-ins, and mall robberies. Additionally, some victims during robberies sustained injuries due to not following the perpetrator’s instructions. The discussion involves applying the crime triangle—a model comprising motivated offenders, suitable targets, and guardians—to understand and reduce these crimes, as well as exploring the role of neutralization theory in explaining offender behavior and considering psychological and biological insights related to criminal actions, particularly in the case of Jared Lee Loughner.

Applying the Crime Triangle to Reduce Crime at the Shopping Mall

The crime triangle, rooted in the routine activities theory, emphasizes the interaction of three elements: motivated offenders, suitable targets, and guardianship. To curtail crime in the shopping mall and parking garage, strategies must address each element effectively. Understanding how these components interact permits targeted preventive measures.

Reducing Offenders’ Motivation

To decrease the presence of motivated offenders, the management can institute increased police patrols, incentivize community watch programs, and utilize surveillance and lighting to deter criminal intent. Education campaigns highlighting legal consequences and moral implications may also diminish motivation. For persistent offenders, implementing strict security protocols and restricted access areas can serve as deterrents.

Protecting Targets

Enhancing target security involves installing surveillance cameras, employing security personnel, and encouraging shoppers to secure valuables out of sight. Signage reminding patrons not to leave belongings unattended or visible reduces target attractiveness. Physical barriers, such as fences and controlled entry points, further decrease target vulnerability.

Increasing Guardianship

Strengthening guardianship encompasses deploying trained security guards, stationing personnel at critical points like parking lots and entrances, and utilizing technology such as alarm systems. Educating shoppers about personal safety and encouraging vigilant behavior cultivates a community of guardianship. Promoting "eyes on the street" approaches increases informal supervision and deters potential offenders.

Preventive Measures and Rationale

The integrated approach of combining improved surveillance, physical security, and community engagement offers a comprehensive solution. Implementing CCTV surveillance creates a hard-to-penetrate environment for offenders, while visible security personnel act as immediate guardians. Educating the public on safety practices diminishes victimization and increases situational awareness, deterring potential offenders.

Furthermore, employing environmental design principles such as Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) ensures that the physical environment discourages illegal activity. For example, maintaining well-lit parking areas and restricting access during off-hours minimizes opportunities for crimes.

These measures are supported by research indicating that increased guardianship significantly reduces property crimes (Cozens et al., 2005). Combining multiple strategies produces a layered defense that addresses each element of the crime triangle, creating a deterrent effect that reduces incidents significantly.

Use of Neutralization Theory in Explaining Robbery Victims’ Behavior

Neutralization theory posits that offenders and, in some cases, victims employ rationalizations to justify criminal behavior or reduce feelings of guilt. In scenarios where victims are injured when they resist or fail to comply during robberies, neutralization techniques can help explain their behavior.

For example, victims may absolve responsibility by attributing blame to external circumstances or perpetrators ("Denial of responsibility"). They might justify their actions by believing that the offender’s actions caused their injuries, thus minimizing their own culpability ("Denial of injury"). Some victims may also rationalize not obeying the robber’s instructions by claiming that the attacker was untrustworthy or that compliance would have worsened the situation ("Denial of victim").

Victims might also condemn the robbers or society for allowing such crimes to occur ("Condemning the condemners"). Lastly, some individuals could justify resisting due to loyalty to friends or family, perceiving compliance as a betrayal ("Appeal to a higher loyalty"). These rationalizations serve to lessen personal guilt and justify risky behavior during such encounters.

Integrating Criminology with Biology and Psychology in Loughner’s Case

Jared Lee Loughner’s case exemplifies the importance of integrating criminological theories with biological and psychological perspectives. Traditional criminology considers environmental, social, and structural factors influencing criminal behavior, while biology and psychology examine individual predispositions and mental states.

Biological insights, such as genetic predispositions, neurochemical imbalances, or brain structure anomalies, can contribute to understanding aggressive or impulsive tendencies. For example, research has linked abnormalities in the prefrontal cortex with impaired impulse control and decision-making (Hariri & Weinberger, 2003). Psychological assessments may reveal traits like psychopathy, paranoid ideation, or personality disturbances that influence behavior.

In Loughner’s case, evidence suggests underlying psychological issues, including potential psychosis or hallucinations, which impacted his actions. His mental health history indicates that he experienced significant delusional thinking, which may have disinhibited his capacity for rational judgment (Vargas et al., 2012). The severity of his mental state at the time of the incident likely played a role in his violent actions, aligning with theories emphasizing mental illness as a factor in criminal conduct.

The debate over whether Loughner’s mental health condition impacted his criminal responsibility hinges on whether he comprehended the nature of his actions or could distinguish right from wrong. The court’s decision to impose a lengthy sentence reflects the severity of the crime, but questions remain whether he should be medicated to a level where he could participate in his defense or receive appropriate mental health treatment. The insanity defense, supported by psychiatric evaluation, requires proving that his mental disorder rendered him unable to understand the consequences of his actions (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

Considering whether Loughner was legally insane involves assessing his mental state during the offense. His history of psychosis and hospitalizations suggests that mental illness significantly influenced his behavior. However, the court ultimately determined that he was sane at the time of the crime, justifying the harsh sentencing. Ethical considerations about mandatory medication involve balancing an individual’s rights against public safety and justice needs.

In conclusion, Loughner’s case illustrates the importance of multidisciplinary approaches—combining criminology, psychiatry, and biology—to comprehensively understand offender motivations and mental health issues. It advocates for integrated interventions that can address the mental health needs of offenders while maintaining societal safety and justice.

References

• American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.).
• Hariri, A. R., & Weinberger, D. R. (2003). Imaging genetics: Perspectives from studies of genes, brain, and behavior. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 4(10), 829-839.
• Cozens, P., Hillier, D., & Prescott, G. (2005). Safe growth: The impact of environmental design on community safety. Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design, 32(2), 231-245.
• Vargas, S. et al. (2012). Psychological evaluation of Jared Lee Loughner: An analysis of mental health factors. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 57(4), 1024-1028.
• Fleming, J., & Mooney, L. (2018). Criminology: Theories, Patterns, and Typologies. Routledge.
• Reyna, V. F., & Brainerd, J. J. (2011). The role of emotion in cognition. In B. Laursen, T. D. Little, & N. L. Dwyer (Eds.), Handbook of social cognition (pp. 138-154). Routledge.
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• Gottfredson, M. R., & Hirschi, T. (1990). A General Theory of Crime. Stanford University Press.
• Walters, G. D. (2014). Neutralizations and their association with future criminal offending. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 58(6), 645-662.