Identify the strengths and weaknesses to taking an individualist (biological or psychological) approach to criminology.

What will be an ideal response?


The most obvious policy outcome of biological and psychological theories in criminology was the shift in focus from “Why is there crime in society?” to “Why is this individual a criminal?” The criminal as patient and crime as a disease became predominant and rehabilitation the emphasis. Psychological positivism placed a greater emphasis on counseling and improving the lot of potential criminals. The paradigm was shifted from punishing the criminal to rehabilitating him or her. The creation of a separate juvenile court system recognized the redemptive possibilities of criminal justice policies. An increase in discretion and individualized treatments reflected this rehabilitation orientation. Biopsychological explanations of criminal behavior are often viewed as politically and socially repressive. If the use of such findings leads social policy away from improving environmental conditions, then the approaches are being used for repressive ends. Not all individuals can be lumped together into a single explanation of their criminality.

Criminal Justice

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Another use of sensatory communication is for the purpose of ____________________, using sensatory language to move that person into the area under investigation

a. modeling c. mirroring b. shifting d. pacing

Criminal Justice

What are the two things must exist in order for an act or omission to be a crime?

What will be an ideal response?

Criminal Justice

An individual commits the offense of " _________________________" if the individual knowingly prevents or interferes with another individual's ability to place an emergency telephone call or to request assistance in an emergency from a law enforcement agency, medical facility, or other agency or entity the primary purpose of which is to provide for the safety of individuals.

A. Silent or Abusive Calls to 9-1-1 Service B. Interference with Emergency Telephone Call C. Harassment D. Stalking

Criminal Justice

What is the name given to the belief that even organizations that were originally proposed to be based upon democratically oriented philosophies eventually come to be dominated by a small, self-serving group of people who have achieved positions of power?

A) Thin Blue Line B) Iron Law of Oligarchy C) zero-tolerance policing D) none of the above

Criminal Justice