Investigation of the Public’s Perceptions and Attitudes Toward Violent Offenders.
Introduction
Although violent crimes are not considered as big a social problem as drug use and sex offending, due to the fact that it has not caused a moral panic (Jones, 2005), violent crime is still a major problem within the UK. It is extremely hard to define a violent criminal due to the fact that a violent crime includes a wide range of different offenses, which all vary in seriousness. Offences that are classed as a violent crime range from first and second degree murder, to domestic battery, to harassment (Stalans et al, 2004). Due to the lack of knowledge, studies have been conducted to try and define a violent criminal. Megargee (1966) looked at individuals who had been convicted of violent crimes and came to the conclusion that there are two different personality types: the ‘under controlled aggressive’ and the ‘chronically over-controlled aggressive’.
It is hard to categorize violence as there are a huge number of possible causative, aggravating and ameliorating factors which may all act in a different way when in combination with each other (Walker & Bright, 2009). However the British Crime Survey, which is used to measure violent crime, divides the different violent offences into four groups: domestic violence, mugging, stranger violence and acquaintance violence (Smith & Allen, 2004).
Violent crime is an ongoing problem within the U.K. The 2009/2010 British Crime Survey estimated that there were 2,087,000 violent incidents against adults within England and Wales, with assault without injury, which falls into the groups of stranger and acquaintance violence, accounting for the biggest percentage of violent incidents. There were also 871,712 violent offences recorded by the police, which is 4% less than the previous year.
Many studies have been conducted to look at violent offenders’ personality and social environment. The ongoing debate of nature and nurture is underlying in the explanation of violent offenders. Factors such as
Although violent crimes are not considered as big a social problem as drug use and sex offending, due to the fact that it has not caused a moral panic (Jones, 2005), violent crime is still a major problem within the UK. It is extremely hard to define a violent criminal due to the fact that a violent crime includes a wide range of different offenses, which all vary in seriousness. Offences that are classed as a violent crime range from first and second degree murder, to domestic battery, to harassment (Stalans et al, 2004). Due to the lack of knowledge, studies have been conducted to try and define a violent criminal. Megargee (1966) looked at individuals who had been convicted of violent crimes and came to the conclusion that there are two different personality types: the ‘under controlled aggressive’ and the ‘chronically over-controlled aggressive’.
It is hard to categorize violence as there are a huge number of possible causative, aggravating and ameliorating factors which may all act in a different way when in combination with each other (Walker & Bright, 2009). However the British Crime Survey, which is used to measure violent crime, divides the different violent offences into four groups: domestic violence, mugging, stranger violence and acquaintance violence (Smith & Allen, 2004).
Violent crime is an ongoing problem within the U.K. The 2009/2010 British Crime Survey estimated that there were 2,087,000 violent incidents against adults within England and Wales, with assault without injury, which falls into the groups of stranger and acquaintance violence, accounting for the biggest percentage of violent incidents. There were also 871,712 violent offences recorded by the police, which is 4% less than the previous year.
Many studies have been conducted to look at violent offenders’ personality and social environment. The ongoing debate of nature and nurture is underlying in the explanation of violent offenders. Factors such as
References: Jones, S. (2005) Understanding Violent Crime. Buckingham: Open University Press. Walker, J.S., & Bright, J.A. (2009). False inflated self-esteem and violence: A systematic review and cognitive model. Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology, 20, 1–32. Hough, M., & Roberts, J. (1998) Attitudes to Punishment Findings from the 1996 British Crime Survey. Home Office Findings. 64 Lombroso, C Lombroso, C. (1897) L’uomo Delinquente. (5th ed.). Torino: Bocca. Cited in Davies, G., Hollin, C., & Bull, R. (2008). Forensic Psychology. West Sussex: John Wiley and Sons Ltd. Davies, G., Hollin, C., & Bull, R. (2008). Forensic Psychology. West Sussex: John Wiley and Sons Ltd.