Juvenille Delinquency

Unit 2 Chapter 3

What is the difference between general deterrence and specific deterrence

Delinquency is generally regarded as a product of rational thinking . As such , it is also believed that juvenile delinquency can be prevented through punitive action . These forms of punishment or retribution are believed to discourage would-be delinquents because they fear the punishment more than they want to commit delinquent acts

There are two types of deterrence in so far as juvenile delinquents are concerned : the general deterrence and the specific deterrence . According to Siegel , the concept

of deterrence is based on the belief that the choice to become a delinquent is dependent on the threat of punishment If they think they will not get caught , then they will commit delinquency without hesitation (72 ) In such cases , criminal and civil punishments serve as deterrents to delinquency , and only the true criminals would choose to disregard these consequences . The general deterrence considers legal punishment as a deterrent to potential juvenile delinquents

Specific deterrent on the other hand , while based on the same principle , considers legal or formal punishment as something that severely discourages repeat offenders from breaking the law once again after they have been punished

Discuss the concept of free will and how it applies to the American criminal justice system today . Illustrate using Katz ' seductions of crime

The concept of free wheel is basic to the American criminal justice system . Man by his very nature is governed by free will when making decisions . And as such , his criminal actions are products of some form of compelling need that pushes him to break the law . Man in his rational state would never deliberately go against the law and while by free will he chooses to commit a crime , it is never done only for the sake of doing so . Delinquency or any crime for that matter is only a means to an end and is never pursued without rhyme or reason

In Katz ' seductions of crime , criminal behavior is presented as an enchanting seducer that all men are capable of succumbing to . That we have in all of us the capacity for crime , but such tendencies have been suppressed for so many reasons . However , there are life events that may trigger these criminal tendencies . Among them are extreme sadness and other forms of deprivation

Discuss the essential characteristics of the classical school of criminology . Include the names Beccaria and Bentham and Lombroso in your answer

The concept of deterrence is rooted in the classical school of criminology . The term came from the classical philosophers of antiquity who first forwarded the element of free will in man 's behavior

Cesare Beccaria (1738-1794 ) is one of the first proponents of classical criminology . He wrote the book On Crimes and Punishment which maintains that People should be presumed innocent until proven guilty ' an idea which is a keystone in our criminal justice system . Beccaria also advocated a penal system that aims to reform criminals and that the justice system should...