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PROGRESSIONS IN CRIMINOLOGY THEORIES:Gary A McAvin
 
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Progressions in Criminology Theories
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Introduction:
Bridging the gap between criminals and the unsuspecting public stands LawEnforcement. The effectiveness of law enforcement is contingent upon several factors, of whichare; one-training, and two-criminal knowledge, et al. The criminal/s usually knows they aregoing to commit a crime. The unsuspecting public is unaware of the criminals decision until it isusually too late. How can these criminals be deterred? How can they be identified prior to anycriminal activity or commission of criminal acts? Where can the edge or deterrence factor befound? The law-enforcement community must have tools to defeat or turn aside criminalactivity. Of course; they have weapons and procedures for this purpose, but; is it enough? Whatwould give them (the law enforcement community) the better or best advantage? Knowing andidentifying the criminal prior to their act? Or; could newer technologies provide the edge lawenforcement is looking for?Law enforcement only has seconds to identify potential criminals. What can they look for in potential criminals? How can they identify criminal types? Will the scientific aspect of criminology be able to supply the answers? How can criminology assist on the ground law-enforcement officials? Would creating a profile help? Yes! Would creating a theory based uponqualitative and quantified data add anything to the formula? Yes! Would empiricallysubstantiated results provide the necessary edge that law-enforcement needs to stay ahead of thecriminal mind? Yes! Theories provide compelling standards on how the criminal both looks
 
3(physical) and thinks (mental thought processes) but; can theories be improved upon? Havecriminology theories changed since their inceptions?
Theories:
What are theories and how are they formulated, defined?
Theory Defined:
“Some writers regard theory as a collection of concepts. Others say theory is aninterconnected set of hypotheses. Other writers say theory is a set of concepts plus theinterrelationships that are assumed to exist among those concepts (Selltiz, Cook, andWrightsman, 1976:16). Another way of viewing theory is as a system of explanation. Someprofessionals regard theory as a conceptual scheme, a frame of reference, or a set of propositionsand conclusions. If we consult a dictionary, one of the worst places to look for a clear definitionof theory, theory is a mental viewing, a contemplation, conjecture, a systematic statement of principles, or a formulation of apparent relationships or underlying principles of certain observedphenomena which has been verified to some degree (Guralnik, 1972:1475).All of these definitions of theory are true. Yet, no single definition above pulls together all of theory’s essential elements. Perhaps one of the clearer and more comprehensive definitions of theory may be gleaned from a synthesis of two definitions provided by Robert Merton (1957:96-99) and the late theorist, Arnold Rose (1965:9-12). According to these social scientists, theory isan integrated body of assumptions, propositions, and definitions that are related in such a way soas to explain and predict relationships between two or more variables.” (Champion, 2000:36-37).
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