Running head: CRIME 1

Crime Theory

Student’s Name

Institutional Affiliation
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Crime Theory

Differences and Similarities of Classical, Chicago, and Positivist theories of Criminology

The classical theory argues that people have free will in making a decision, and therefore

punishment is good enough to deter criminal activity. However, the form of discipline ought to

be appropriate and should be done promptly and commensurate to the crime's magnitude. The

classical theory argues that a person commits a crime in their free will. In contrast, the positivist

theory argues that people are inherently good until social and psychological factors make a

person more inclined to criminal behavior. According to the Chicago model, social

disorganization contributes to the prevalence of a criminal offense. Both classical and positivist

theories are similar because they agree that a criminal behavior crime can be deterred. Besides,

illegal activity is a result of human nature. Both Chicago and classical theories admit that a

change in an individual's social ecology contributes to criminality.

Part 2 'Stick up kid' and 'The Interrupters.'

The two films have convinced me of the reason why people commit a crime. In the movie

'Stick up kid,' Alonza Thomas Junior, barely 16 years of age, got predisposed into a criminal

environment against his wish. Alonza fell out with his mother, ran away from home, and sought

refuge in a certain man's apartment. After some time staying with the man, he thought it was

time to go back. However, the man coerced him to assist him in breaking into a certain store, a

failure to which he was going to shoot him. Alonza's offense is based on positivist theory in that

he was inherently innocent until a man coerced him to rob the 'Fastrip gas store' for him

(FRONTLINE, 2014). In the film 'Interrupters,' the youth are socialized to the crime through

observation and adaptation. Most of the members in the 'Ceasefire' gang had either their friend or
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relative killed. For example, Ameena Mathews' father was a gangster, and therefore socialization

contributes to criminality.

Society can prevent crimes by fighting unemployment among people, especially the

youth. Good governance that listens to all people's views is another way to prevent criminalities

and reduce rebellious groups.

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References

FRONTLINE. (2014). Stick Up Kid. Retrieved from: https://www.pbs.org/video/frontline-

stickup-kid/