Crime: Social Control
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Sociological Theories of Criminal Behavior I: The Social-Structural Approach
Lionel Tate was only 12 when he killed his playmate, only 14 when he was tried and convicted in 2001 as an adult and sentenced to life in prison without a chance of parole. In 2003, a Florida court ordered a new trial, ruling that Tate was entitled to a hearing on the issue of whether he understood the charges against him and could participate in his defense. The prosecutor offered the same plea bargain that Tate’s mother had rejected on his behalf prior to trial. Tate was released to his mother’s custody in January 2004. Later that year, Tate violated the terms of his release but was not jailed until he was arrested in 2005 for allegedly committing several crimes, including armed robbery. He entered guilty pleas and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Subsequently, Tate asked to withdraw those pleas on the grounds that his attorney was incompetent, but in October 2007, Tate’s 30-year prison term was upheld.
0195370447_0094-0141_CH_05.qxp
6/18/08
9:51 AM
Page 95
CHAPTER OUTLINE
Key Terms Introduction Ecological Theories The Chicago School and Its Impact Contemporary Research on Urban Crime and Delinquency Anomie/Strain Theories The Classic Anomie Approach Durkheim’s Contributions Merton’s Contributions Contemporary Approaches Messner and Rosenfeld: Institutional Anomie Theory (IAT) Agnew: General Strain Theory (GST) Subculture Theories and Their Forerunners The Study of Gangs The Earlier Works Current Research and Policies on Gangs Female Gangs The Prevention of Gangs The Lower-Class Boy and Middle-Class Measuring Rod Neutralization and Drift Differential Opportunity Education and Delinquency The Lower-Class Boy and Lower-Class Culture Evaluation of Subculture Theories Crime and the Family Family Social Structures Family Power Relationships: Power-Control Theory The Routine Activity
6/18/08
9:51 AM
Page 94
CHAPTER
5
Sociological Theories of Criminal Behavior I: The Social-Structural Approach
Lionel Tate was only 12 when he killed his playmate, only 14 when he was tried and convicted in 2001 as an adult and sentenced to life in prison without a chance of parole. In 2003, a Florida court ordered a new trial, ruling that Tate was entitled to a hearing on the issue of whether he understood the charges against him and could participate in his defense. The prosecutor offered the same plea bargain that Tate’s mother had rejected on his behalf prior to trial. Tate was released to his mother’s custody in January 2004. Later that year, Tate violated the terms of his release but was not jailed until he was arrested in 2005 for allegedly committing several crimes, including armed robbery. He entered guilty pleas and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Subsequently, Tate asked to withdraw those pleas on the grounds that his attorney was incompetent, but in October 2007, Tate’s 30-year prison term was upheld.
0195370447_0094-0141_CH_05.qxp
6/18/08
9:51 AM
Page 95
CHAPTER OUTLINE
Key Terms Introduction Ecological Theories The Chicago School and Its Impact Contemporary Research on Urban Crime and Delinquency Anomie/Strain Theories The Classic Anomie Approach Durkheim’s Contributions Merton’s Contributions Contemporary Approaches Messner and Rosenfeld: Institutional Anomie Theory (IAT) Agnew: General Strain Theory (GST) Subculture Theories and Their Forerunners The Study of Gangs The Earlier Works Current Research and Policies on Gangs Female Gangs The Prevention of Gangs The Lower-Class Boy and Middle-Class Measuring Rod Neutralization and Drift Differential Opportunity Education and Delinquency The Lower-Class Boy and Lower-Class Culture Evaluation of Subculture Theories Crime and the Family Family Social Structures Family Power Relationships: Power-Control Theory The Routine Activity