CJ 333

Unit 3

Sources of data?

• Where do we get our data?

• Is it accurate?

Sources

• Victims

• Police Official vs unofficial

• Courts State and Federal

• Inmates in jail

Is this all? Do we have a complete and accurate picture of domestic abuse?

Stats

• Family violence accounted for 11% of all crime between 1998-2002

3.5 million violent crimes against family members

49% against spouses

11% were sons/daughters victimized by parent

41% were crimes against other family members

• Most common is simple assault

• 22% of murders in 2002 were committed on family members

• About ¾ of victims were women

Gay and Lesbian

• Research new

• Estimated to be same as heterosexual or ¼ to ½ of all relationships

• Another study 2 out of 5 men reported violence in a relationship with a man

• Gay men in relationships had higher %

• NYC Gay & Lesbian Project site 25-33%

So what CAUSES family violence?

• 3 main Schools of Thoughts:– Positive School– Classical School– Conflict School

Classical School

• Free Will

• You chose to engage in crime

• Punishment must fit the crime & swift• Rational Choice Deterrence Theory

• Social Policy if you believe in this theory??

• Criticisms of Classical School?

Positivist School

• Wants to know the cause of crime

• If we know the cause, we can “cure” it

• Believes crime caused from biological, psychological & sociological viewpoints

• Scientific based

• Eugenics movement

• Biological – Controversial; criminal actions caused by

one’s biology– Biochemical imbalances

– Criticisms of Biological Theories?– Social Policy if you believe this theory?

Positive School umbrella

• Sociological Theories– Relationship between crime & poverty

– Culture of Violence Theory– Social Disorganization Theory– Strain Theory– Gender Role Theory

• Criticisms?

Positive School Umbrella

• Psychological Theories– Social Learning Theories

• Not born criminals; learn from environment

– Behavior Modeling Theory• Children learn to be aggressive like their parents • Model after TV, movies too

• Criticisms?

• Social Policy?

Conflict School

• The ruling class maintains control

• Poverty & unemployment are core

• Isn’t concerned with “cause” • Patriarchal Theory• Gender Inequality

• Criticisms?

• Social Policy?

• So, what do you think?

• Which theory or School of Thoughts explain what family violence occurs??