#criminal theories

[vampprince-sono]

Criminology Expectations: learning about high-profile criminals and how their minds work

Criminology Reality: studying theories that explain criminality

[mrs-serrano]

Investigating Street Gangs

By Angela L. Serrano

The gang problems that are found in major urban cities, are found in rural areas as well. There is not any city or town immune to the gangs and the mayhem they can bring. “federal law defines the term “gang” as “an ongoing group, club, organization, or association of five or more persons: (A) that has as one of its primary purposes the commission of one or more of the criminal offenses described in subsection (c); (B) the members of which engage, or have engaged within the past five years, in a continuing series of offenses described in subsection (c); and (C) the activities of which affect interstate or foreign commerce.” (FBI, 2009)

Commonly, a gang, or street gang is well-known in the city or areas it represents. Either because of the way they present themselves out in public, or because everyone usually has family, friends or acquaintances that are affiliated with some form of gang activity. Especially the smaller town or city. The members of the gang can also be recognized by these traits:

• “The group has three or more members, aged 12–24.

• Members share an identity, typically linked to a name, and often other symbols.

• Members view themselves as a gang, and they are recognized by others as a gang.

• The group has some permanence and a degree of organization.

• The group is involved in an elevated level of criminal activity.” (Department of Justice, 2012)

Gangs have been a growing problem for the last 25 to 30 years, especially in more populated urban areas. Lately the crimes they are committing are getting mainstream attention and more media coverage for the crimes they are involved in. “Recent examples include white-collar crimes, human trafficking, prostitution rings, infiltration of governmental and criminal justice agencies, usage of social networking sites and other Internet sites to coordinate criminal activity, and affiliation with domestic extremist groups.” (Department of Justice, 2012)

Recent studies have suggested that gang activity occurs in a cycle. There may be times of low activity and a sense of calm in the streets and neighborhoods. This, unfortunately, bever lasts for extended periods of time. The uptick in violent crimes, such as stabbings, shootings and even assault charges, seem to coincide with movement from rival gangs stepping into the current gang's territory.

The local county and statewide response to gang activity follow a generalized way of action and can include these top five strategies:

1. “Neighborhood mobilization (Ojj Dp B & Ov, 2004)

2. Social intervention, youth outreach programs (Ojj Dp B & Ov, 2004)

3. Provisions for social and economic opportunities, such as at-risk schools, and job training (Ojj Dp B & Ov, 2004)

4. Gang suppression and incarceration (Ojj Dp B & Ov, 2004)

5. Development of organized tasks forces in every police department.” (Ojj Dp B & Ov, 2004)

Neighborhood mobilization is a broad term for community outreach. We need people in the community to care about these young people and try to help them, before they run out of money to join a gang. Setting up afterschool sports, clubs, or homework help through the local community centers or even the actual school site.” Follow the school district rules for how to get involved and get involved. Some police departments have developed community-oriented strategies, with considerable attention to community collaboration, social intervention, and even opportunity enhancement. Some police officers assigned to the gang problem have directly provided counseling, job development and referral, and tutoring, and have engaged in extensive community relations and development activities” (Ojj Dp B & Ov, 2004)

Social intervention and youth outreach programs need willing volunteers, organizers and people who really care about these kids and want to invest in the future of these children and invest in their communities.

Provisions for social and economic development come in step with the community coming together to save the children. Small businesses owners take a chance and hire that teenager to help take out the trash or stock shelves. Giving someone a chance to earn a living or know what being a productive member of society feels like can make a difference.

Once these kids are involved with the gangs, it does not mean it is time to stop trying to reach out. They can be saved from living a gang lifestyle. Using tactics like more diversion programs, community service, “some judges try to use the court as a basis for a community-oriented approach in which a variety of community, school, family, and justice system organizations concentrate efforts to address the special needs of the youth gang member” (Ojj Dp B & Ov, 2004)

The development of gang units, and tasks forces, can be beneficial on both sides, first it allows the officers a chance to familiarize themselves with the members and dynamics of each gang in their authority and it allows the gang members a chance to see if the officer is legit in what he says about wanting to help.

I believe the way to combat gang activity is to prevent it from the start. Stop it before it happens by stopping that kid from becoming a gang member. Finding the necessary funds needed to start outreach programs is only one of the challenges but finding the people in the community who care enough to want to help the kids.

Resources:

Department of Justice. (2012). Frequently Asked Questions About Gangs. National Gang Center; Department of Justice. https://nationalgangcenter.ojp.gov/about/faq#faq-1-what-is-a-gang

FBI. (2009). A Brief Review of Federal and State Definitions. FBI. www.fbi.org/gangs

Ojj Dp B, I., & Ov, J. (2004). S BJA N. https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles/gangprob.pdf

[radiance1]

Danny: Hey, I need you to be my boyfriend for a week.

Jason: What.

Danny: My parents are coming over and I've apparently accidentally talked about a partner more than once and only realized when they said they wanted to meet them.

Jason, currently still solidifying his power as a Crime Lord: Excuse me?

Danny: Let me get this out of the way, I do not consider you at all a person of romantical interest and a friend. But I need you to act as my partner for only a week until my parents go on their merry way over to my sister, okay?

Jason: Is there, quite literally, no one else to ask this?

Danny: You're my only friend who lives in Gotham, plus we share the same apartment.

Jason: That's almost sad.

Danny: You in?

Jason: Sure, why not.

===

Maddie: Danny, honey.

Danny: Yes mom?

Maddie: I don't mean to.... question, who you choose as your parent but. Well, me and your father was just wandering if he was a... [Maddie gestures with her hand] you know, one of those.

Danny, uncomprehendingly staring at his mother's hand: What.

Maddie: Oh dear, how do I bring this up. You know, one of those.

Danny: Mother I need more context.

Jack: If your boyfriend a crime lord!?

Maddie: Jack!

Jack: What? Beating around the bush wasn't helping!

Danny: Say WHAT?

===

Danny: Hey dude, thanks for helping with this even though you didn't need to!

Jason: No problem, I wasn't doing anything too [Crime Lord activities flash through his mind] important.

Danny: Can you believe my parents thought you were a crime lord though? Weird am I right?

Jason:

Danny: Jason. You are scaring me.

Jason: Haha, yea that's weird isn't it?

Danny: Jason.

Jason: Well, I have to leave now to attend to my totally real and totally not crime related job at the ice cream shop.

Danny: [Squints eyes]

Jason: [Internally sweating bullets]

Danny: Suuuuure, bring me back some ice cream though.

Jason: [Thumbs up and leaves]

[farmerfent]

my coffee order is better than urs (it’s literally just an iced cinnamon latte)

[gothra]

I’ll never forget when I was arguing with a person in favor of total prison abolition and I asked them “what about violent offenders?” And they said “Well, in a world where prisons have been abolished, we’ll have leveled the playing field and everyone will have their basic needs met, and crime won’t be as much of an issue.” And then I was like “okay. But…no. Because rich people also rape and murder, so it isn’t just a poor person thing. So what will we do about that?” And I don’t think they answered me after that. I’m ashamed to say I continued to think that the problem was that I simply didn’t understand prison abolitionists enough and that their point was right in front of me, and it would click once I finally let myself understand it. It took me a long time to realize that if something is going to make sense, it needs to make sense. If you want to turn theory into Praxis (I’m using that word right don’t correct me I’ll vomit) everyone needs to be on board, which mean it all needs to click and it needs to click fast and fucking clear. You need to turn a complex idea into something both digestible and flexible enough to be expanded upon. Every time I ask a prison abolitionist what they actually intend to do about violent crime, I get directed to a summer reading list and a BreadTuber. It’s like a sleight-of-hand trick. Where’s the answer to my question. There it is. No wait, there it is. It’s under this cup. No it isn’t. “There’s theory that can explain this better than I can.” As if most theory isn’t just a collection of essays meant to be absorbed and discussed by academics, not the average skeptic. “Read this book.” And the book won’t even answer the question. The book tells you to go ask someone else. “Oh, watch this so-and-so, she totally explains it better than me.” Why can’t you explain it at all? Why did you even bring it up if you were going to point me to someone else to give me the basics that you should probably already know? Maybe I’m just one of those crazy people who thinks that some people need to be kept away from the public for everyone’s good. Maybe that just makes me insane. Maybe not believing that pervasive systemic misogyny could be solved with a UBI and a prayer circle makes me a bad guy. But it’s not like women’s safety is a priority anyway. It’s not like there is an objective claim to be made that re-releasing violent offenders or simply not locking them up is deadly.

[my-midlife-crisis]

[marril96]

Criminal Minds 17.05 | Conspiracy vs. Theory

[brothermayihavesome0ats]

Criminal Minds S01E01 - a scene analysis/things I noticed

(The text in the images is the same, I just worried you can't read my handwriting)

1. In the beginning scene where Gideon is asked to return to the BAU, the way the characters are positioned is representative of their power dynamic or role within the BAU at that point as well as representing the dilemma within the scene

- Reid is in the background since he is the youngest and least experienced, also the least in focus atp. He's also positioned in front of a map, which could be foreshadowing for his ample ability of geographical profiling

- Morgan is in front of Reid but still behind Hotch and Gideon

- At first, Gideon is positioned as the main focus with the camera showing him debating returning to the BAU for the first time since the Boston incident. As Hotch tells him that “the order came from the director” the camera focus switches as in the team “came back into focus” as Gideon realizes he has to come back.

- The camera then focuses on Hotch since he is the leader of the team. This shows that now that Gideons dilemma isn't the only thing in focus, the team has dynamics and roles which are also a large aspect of the show

2. In this scene with the family of the unsub, although the family isn't centered they are very clearly the focus of attention due to the clear blue colour tint around them. This suggests the grief they are in after finding out their family member committed a crime. The family is surrounded by green tints as well, showing their grief is surrounded by the unsubs world (explanation in next observation)

- In the next scene if you look at the family portrait you will see that everyone in the family except the unsub is in blue, showing that the entire family was affected by his actions in their grief but also that he stands out from them.

- When Elle comes in from the left in the next frame, her red outfit is a contrast to the blue. She is from the outside world, an outsider to the family's grief.

3. The general lighting in this scene shows an outside world (the warmer lights in the hallway) and the inside world of the unsub, with the darker green colors. In the frame pictured, the unsub is looking away from the outside world.

- Gideon is wearing red to contrast the green

- The family portrait shows how the unsub is an outsider with the rest of the family positioned in a tight triangle and him in the bottom right corner, also wearing different colors from the rest of the family

- The family photo is centered in this scene, showing a clear contrast between them surrounding the unsub versus him now being all alone

- The table in front of him is empty, showing he has no future in front of him. In a few seconds Gideon places his book in front of him, showing that the only future now is the BAUs work

- There is a chair facing backwards behind the unsub. This is like an interrogation, so the two chairs are for the two unsubs. But because the team doesn't know this yet, the chair faces away from Gideon, the interrogator.

4. Following the train of thought about the colors, we can see that the car the unsub used to lure the women into is red. The contact with the outside world is red, and in the scene where we see him kidnap a victim we can see he is wearing a green jacket as he locks the girl in the red car, showing that she is being locked away by the inside world of the unsub.

5. In this scene with Hotch interrogating the unsub, he is centered as he walks into the interrogation room to show his importance.

6. In the scene at the very end of the episode, the unsub is once again shown in green lighting. His truck is shown in red, while Gideon is also in green. This shows how Gideon Has stepped into the inner world of the unsub, and is looking out on the outside world from within as he realizes who he's talking to.

Colour contrast throughout the episode:

[spider-xan]

Regarding Mina's description of Dracula and why it's problematic, a good starting point would be to read the Wikipedia article for physiognomy, which is the outdated pseudoscience of face reading that is unfortunately rooted in racism, antisemitism, ableism, etc., and was very popular during the Victorian era as a way to judge moral character based on facial features.

So when Mina says 'His face was not a good face', she is not just saying that Dracula is ugly (though concepts of ugliness and beauty are not value-neutral either), but that she can tell that he is evil based on his facial features; note that one of the facial features she singles out is a 'beaky nose', which comes from Cesare Lombroso's idea that among other traits, hawk-like noses are a marker of criminality on the basis of criminals being evolutionary throwbacks who are less evolved than non-criminals; many of these allegedly 'criminal' and 'degenerate' facial features are obviously racialized and not associated with Gentile whiteness, but in opposition to it.

Stoker was definitely interested in physiognomy and uses it as a narrative device to show how certain heroic characters are intelligent, perceptive, and educated on the latest (pseudo)sciences (the modernity theme again) - namely Mina and Van Helsing, but also Jonathan to a lesser degree; we will definitely see this idea come up several more times, including explicit references to Lombroso himself.

It is also important to remember that linking physical appearance and morality still happens today - think about how many people say they can tell someone is a bad person bc they're ugly or that 'People get the face they deserve' where good people age gracefully and bad people age poorly, even though aging has nothing to do with personal character.

[writer-in-theory]

tying you to me — masterlist.

Summary: From play weddings in the suburbs of Las Vegas to lavish hotel rooms in New York City, Spencer and Reader find their way back to each other every time. Pairing: Spencer Reid x Fem!Reader Content Warnings: Smut in later parts (18+ only), Discussions of schizophrenia, Bullying, Allusions to abuse/neglect (the Reids), Canon-typical violence, Cheating A/N: This is a rewrite of a wip series called "the way i love(d) you" that can be found here. Huge thanks to @serenity-lattes and @reidsaurora for listening to me rant about this thing and helping me figure it out.

Playlist

i. i dared you to kiss me

ii. just like a folk song

iii. i'm only me when i'm with you

iv. hear it in the silence

v. mastermind

vi. so you could take it off

vii. it's fearless

viii. dancing with our hands tied

ix. the afterglow

x. champagne problems

xi. how did it end?

xii. i almost do

xiii. enchanted to meet you

xiv. false god

xv. the very first night

xvi. i can see you

xvii. the alchemy

xviii. your ivy grows

xix. high infidelity

xx. alive from the dead

xxi. just say yes

xxii. invisible string

[nightswatchdisbandmentera]

What makes the legend of the last hero stand out among the more prominent messianic figures in the story is its ‘every man’ sort of feel. The Prince That Was Promised can only ever be royal - since the existing requirement is to be born of Aerys and Rhaella’s line, who ruled as king and queen. Azor Ahai is interpreted in story as being related to a king. Yet the last hero was just some guy. His tale has been passed down across millennia, but he himself remains anonymous. We don’t know what family or region he came from. He may have been low born or high born, it doesn’t really matter. And what’s most interesting is how GRRM chooses to parallel his story in the published material. Waymar Royce, Bloodraven, Coldhands, Sam Tarly, Bran Stark, and Jon Snow all serve as narrative mirrors for the last hero. But there’s are quite a few differences. Waymar Royce is a highborn lord, but Jon and Bloodraven are bastards. Jon Snow is the typical fantasy warrior, yet Sam and Bran are GRRM’s deconstructions of what it looks like when a boy who doesn’t fit the chivalric ideal of knighthood gets to be the hero. Jon and Bran are also especially noteworthy because they are at the heart of one GRRM’s core thesis statements:

 “I have a tender spot in my heart for cripples and bastards and broken things.”

So as a propaganda piece, I'd imagine that repeating this tale goes a long way. Imagine you're some unassuming kid from Flea Bottom. You'll never be the promised prince because you're not related to the king. It's a bit hard to be Azor Ahai because where in seven hells will you get dragon eggs, and how will you attain the magic required to bring them to life? But then you COULD be the last hero. Regardless of who your parents are and what type of blood you've got, you too can gather all your friends and go on a hero's journey. And isn't that what children's dreams are made of?

[mrs-serrano]

Positivism and Labeling Theory

By Angela L. Serrano

The criminal justice system of the United States is built on laws and society conforming to these laws. For adults, there are many theories that can easily answer criminologists' questions of why people commit crimes. In the juvenile justice system, it becomes more complicated for a few reasons. The first being the juvenile is under the control of parental figures, the education institutions, and their peers. The second is their brain anatomy is different from an adult. Figuring out the reason for juvenile crime is therefore made more difficult. Looking at the possible theories and considering the two main factors stated earlier, the theories that stand out as the most able to answer questions about the juvenile offender is the positivism theory and labeling theory.

Positivism theory is the criminology theory that can explain delinquency in juveniles because it can be described as linking crime to outside and internal influences, such as psychological factors, that fall upon the juvenile and is the reason, they can commit crimes, and the outside influences that can push a juvenile to commit crimes. This can bridge criminal behavior with both the psychological and sociological influences on the offender.

For example, positivism theory can link the crime the juvenile committed to the neglect and lack of parental care and guidance instead of the predetermined decision of the juvenile. (The Chicago School, 2021) Another example of positivism theory is when a juvenile commits crime because the friends he surrounds himself commits crimes and he finds these friends to have more influence over him at that time.

The differences in positivism theory can be explained in two separate types, individual and sociological. These two types can explain how other forces directly influenced the juvenile and influenced negatively and made committing crimes acceptable.

Individual positivism can connect criminal actions with psychological factors in the juvenile. There are criminologists who can link psychiatric or personality issues that can be found in the juvenile are the cause of criminal behavior. As a result, psychological therapy and treatment could be used to help rehabilitate and mitigate criminal behavior tendencies. (The Chicago School, 2021)

Sociological positivism focuses on social factors found in the juvenile's life “can lead to a higher propensity for crime.” (The Chicago School, 2021) Such sociological factors can be family, poverty, peer pressure and the type of home life they are exposed to. This type of positivism is found to be “mitigated” through a change in their social environment.

Labeling theory is when a group or person is labeled and stigmatized as being a certain way, causing them to act that way because it changes the way they see themselves. It can be called a self-fulfilling prophecy. When a label of deviance or criminal is put upon a juvenile, especially a juvenile that is already suffering from other issues, the label can overtake their whole idea of themselves. It can be all they see, and of course what they start to believe. It is what society does to people differently than them and what is considered normal. That automatically means anyone that is a minority, in poverty, looks different and speaks differently, all receive labels from the societal norm. “Those with criminal labels are distrusted and distained widely, and individuals may believe that criminals are completely unable to behave morally.” (Simply Psychology, 2022)

An example of labeling theory is when a juvenile is seen with unkempt clothes and looks dirty, if they are seen around a store, the owner will watch him more closely when he walks the aisles, making sure he does not steal anything. Because of his appearance, the owner automatically labels him a thief. This in turn changes the juvenile’s way of thinking about himself and changes the way he sees himself.

I believe working with juveniles at a younger age and intervening before they fall into the mentality where these issues can affect them negatively. If there is neglect in the home, create after school programs where they can learn to trust adults and learn to bond and feel they matter. If it is psychological instances that influence juveniles, working with them at an early age can help mitigate the negative impact of being without help. Working with juveniles is the only way to stop adult crime in the future.

Resources:

The Chicago School. (2021, July 2). What is Positivism in Criminology? | The Chicago School. Insight Digital Magazine. https://www.thechicagoschool.edu/insight/psychology/what-is-positivism-in-criminology/

US Department of Justice. (2023). Theoretical Perspectives on Juvenile Delinquency: Root Causes and Control | Office of Justice Programs. Ojp.gov. https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/theoretical-perspectives-juvenile-delinquency-root-causes-and#:~:text=The%20positivist%20view%2C%20on%20the,and%20the%20management%20of%20behaviors.

[communitypoolswimlessons]

ok so they didn't do FBI list Percy in the show this season but what I need!!! is for it to be some off hand comment in the next. please. i am begging you because i need this

[ssaseaprince]

Can we talk about how Derek obviously has a type because Spencer and Penelope are so similar.

[luna-vixen-art]

It warms my dreary heart that people in the fnaf community are making the same jokes about Into The Pit as I did when I read the book.

I feel like a proud parent lol.

[lover-of-books-and-tea]

JJ: How do you feel about children?

Emily: They’re okay. I mean, if I saw one, I wouldn’t throw a rock at one

JJ: Why would you throw a rock at a child?

Emily: *chuckles* I just said I wouldn’t