Strain Theory Essay

Words: 2522

Pages: 11

Open Document

The juvenile justice system was created in the hopes of rehabilitating and protecting youths from the harsh treatment of the justice system that was forced upon them. However recently the juvenile justice system has focused on passing out more severe punishments, because of an increase in violent crimes by young offenders. According to the article on pbs.org, in Colorado, the General Assembly eliminated the possibility of parole for life sentences and expanded the power of district attorneys to treat juveniles as adults (Bikel 2007). This paper discusses five individuals sentence to life without parole in the documentary when kids get life and theories that best explain their actions.
Jacob Inh (15) sentence to life without parole in 1994 was …show more content…
Strain theory focuses on two major categories: goal blockage and the loss of positive stimuli/presentation of negative stimuli. Individuals experiencing strain may turn to delinquency in an effort to reduce or escape strain, that causes these individuals negative emotions like anger and frustration (Agnew and Timothy 2015: 228). These individuals are beset with a variety of problems or strains and unable to cope through legal channels. In Nathan’s case he was experiencing a loss of positive stimuli/presentation of negative stimuli. Nathan had also began to abuse alcohol and drugs, which he felt was the only way to cope with the abuse from his …show more content…
From the age of 14 Trevor had drifted into drug and alcohol abuse and skipping school. He also had a record for fighting and drunk driving. On November 21 1996, while Mathew was trying to buy a gun off of Trevor and friend in a Denver parking lot, Trevor decided to con Mathew by taking both the gun and money. While in an attempt to tell Mathew not to say anything about what had happen the gun had discharged shooting Mathew in the head. Trevor turned him self in the next

Robert Merton's Strain Theory Essay

Merton believed that societal norms placed too much pressure on the average american, which made them place themselves in a category that did deviant actions to achieve the goals of an upper class american. Merton later named this concept the strain theory. Merton was mainly concerned that societies like the United States did not provide the means to reach cultural goals. Merton had five types of adaption, conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion. Two to three of which will…

Words 526 - Pages 3

The School Of Thought Surrounding Posit Essay

holistic view to explain why and how crime occurs, in attempts to prevent criminal behaviour. Subcultural theories explain deviance in terms of the subculture of a social group, believing that certain groups and cultures develop norms and values that may be considered deviant to other groups. The Strain and Control theories have both linked crime with conformism, yet the Strain theory aligns itself with the belief that crime occurs due to the need to conform. Robert K. Merton outlined a different…

Words 3691 - Pages 15

Robert Merton's Strain Theory

Robert Merton’s model of strain and anomie has been at the forefront of much criminological research of explaining the roots of social deviancy. However it has expanded by many theorists and despite that many agreed with Merton’s views, they all noted that his work was somewhat lacking in explanation and limited in terms of empirical corroboration. The two Predecessors Durkheim and Merton’s work on strain should not be completely discredited, as in the particular time frame in which they were writing;…

Words 2023 - Pages 9

City of God Essay

David Anderson Criminal Behavior Essay Paper 4/22/2005 City of God The City of God is based on actual events that occurred in Rio de Janeiro during the 1960's and 1970's. The movie is about the rise and fall of a fearsome sociopath gang leader Li'l Ze, who reigned as king of the drug lords during the 70's. The first part of the movie illustrates some of the forces that mold Li'l Ze into the man he becomes, while the second half shows his ruthless leap to power, followed by the…

Words 930 - Pages 4

Explaining Crime Essay

CRIME ASSIGNMENT 2 ESSAY ________________________________ ANOMIE, STRAIN, AND SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY: INTERPRETING CRIME Causes of crime are arguably criminology’s most important and largest research topic. In this process of research, criminologists and academics have used numerous theories in attempts to explain how and why people resort to crime (Ellis, Beaver, Wright, 2009). The purpose of this paper is to examine a case study first with the use of strain theories (ST), followed by social…

Words 3379 - Pages 14

Explain the Strengths and Weaknesses of One or More Criminological Theories for Explaining Crime in Contemporary Britain Essay

weaknesses of one or more criminological theories for explaining crime in contemporary Britain Word count:1,200 Outline plan * Explain in brief the purpose of this essay. * Define the biological theory. * Evaluate Lombroso’s theory and link it to contemporary Britain. Include statistical data. * Discuss Charles Goring’s critisms of Lombroso’s theory. * Evaluate Sheldon’s somatypes theory. * Describe and evaluate the biological chromosomes theory. * State how Patria Jacobs’ study…

Words 2661 - Pages 11

Case Study Of Asthma

side rooms giving a total of twenty six beds. Amie is an eight year old girl with a history of Asthma, she was diagnosed at the age of 4 years old. Asthma has been adapted in this essay due to the patients I came across within my care suffered with either mild or server respiratory disorder. I feel that focusing my essay around asthma which would enhance my knowledge and confidence when caring for a child with this condition. Amie was admitted to the ward after having an exacerbating episode of shortness…

Words 3208 - Pages 13

Dark Knight of the Soul Essay

just a conversation. Laura Kipnis controversial essay Love’s Labors reflects on many situations that goes on in a relationship. Infidelity in any way is considered cheating, or in Kipnis case having “an affair of the heart”. Which she later reveals that there could be more unwanted consequences than one signed up for. Having a broken heart because of that significant others’ infidelity is one of the main consequences that Kipnis touches on in this essay. Whether it be the male or females’ wrong doing;…

Words 551 - Pages 3

Non Directive Support

potential stressor. For some it can be extremely difficult to adjust to completing extra work and reading that is required of them to perform well at degree level. To add procrastinating can lead to extra work/ reading to accumulate resulting in added strain generating a vicious…

Words 1672 - Pages 7

Voyages: Easter Island and Joanne Van Tilburg Essay

Roberts Paul Shankman Essay for Exam 1 October 14, 2014 Easter Island is a strange place with a lost past. The “navel of the world” has had quite a tumultuous history post European contact, but it seems scholars cannot quite decide what happened before the bearded men of Europe arrived on these distant shores. In this brief essay I will discuss the two strains of thought we covered in class, as well as the implications of both, and the evidence behind each theory. The first model for Easter…

Words 1427 - Pages 6