Unit 2 Assignment Cj 499

Criminal Theory

Tammy Mills

CJ 499

July 19, 2016

Terry Campbell

Criminal Theory

Biological, sociological, and psychological theories of crime causation affect human behavior and actions in many ways. These theories can intertwine with each other or act alone separately. The following three examples of different events should show that the crimes committed were personally viewed to be caused on a separate basis.

Example One

In Atlanta Georgia three white young adults plead guilty to a hate crime in killing an African American in Jackson Mississippi. The charges range from the federal hate crime law to conspiracy for two of the young adults. The third adult received a simple assault charge. The African American appeared to be drunk and standing in a hotel parking lot next to his truck because he locked the keys in the truck. These young adults were looking for and targeting anyone they could find and unfortunately they came across James C. Anderson. These adults violated Mr. Anderson’s civil rights and inflicted bodily harm by running him over with a truck and ultimately murdering Mr. Anderson (Severson, 2012).

This case would fall under the biological theory because this was a hate crime against a specific race. Age may have played a part because these young adults were looking for trouble and purposely preyed on an intoxicated middle-aged African American. It is not clear whether or not the parents taught these men to hate African Americans or any homeless person that these men were initially looking for. This was a crime of opportunity because James Anderson was the first person these men came across.

Example Two

This is a case study stating that crime is rarely linked to mental illness. This study concentrated on the mental illnesses of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia disorders, and major depression involving 143 offenders that committed 429 crimes. There is no mention of specific crimes committed in the article. Some percentages are used for...