Social Conflict Theory Criminology

Oscar Ortega
April 17, 2012
Professor: Dr. Hill (Jackson)
Westwood College

Part I- Background on Criminology. What is criminology? Criminology is the scientific approach to studying criminal behaviors. According to criminologists Edwin Sutherland and Donald Cressey they state: Criminology is the body of knowledge regarding crime as a social phenomenon. It includes within its scope the processes of making laws, if breaking laws, and reacting towards the breaking of laws…. The objective of criminology is the development of a body of general and verified principles and of other types of knowledge regarding this process of law, crime, and treatment. Sutherland and Cressey’s definition includes some of the most important
areas of interest to criminologists (Criminology, p.4) There are many different and similar types of criminological theories.
The most common theories are rational choice, trait, social process, social conflict, critical criminology, restorative justice and developmental. Rational choice theory was the view that crime is a function of a decision-making process in which the potential offender weighs the potential costs and benefits of an illegal act. The trait theory is the view that criminality is a product of abnormal biological and/or psychological traits. Social process theory is the view that criminology is a function of people’s interactions with various organizations, institutions, and processes in society. Social conflict theory is the view that crime is a function of class conflict and power relations, laws are created and enforced by those in power to protect own interests. Critical criminology theory viewed that capitalism produces haves and have-nots, each engaging in particular branch of criminology. Restorative justice theory is the view that emphasizes the promotion of a peaceful, just society through reconciliation and reintegration of the offender into society. Developmental theory was a branch of criminology that examines change in criminal career over the life course. All of these theories are different from each other by how each one is being influenced and directed to. The similarities of these theories are that they all psychologically influence the offenders to become good
citizens. There are many research methods that are used in criminology. Those criminologists who devote themselves to criminal statistics and research mythology engage in a number of different tasks. Some of the tasks consisted devising accurate methods of collecting crime data, using these tested methods to measure the amount and trends of criminal activity. Using valid crime data to determine who commits crime and where it occurs, measuring the effects of social policy and social trends on crime rate changes. Using crime data to design crime prevention programs and then measuring their effectiveness. These are the most common research methods that are used in criminology. Part II- Serial Killer Profile. According to Charles Montaldo From the About website, Theodore Bundy was born Theodore Robert Cowell to Louise Cowell on November 24, 1946, at the Elizabeth Lund Home for unwed mothers in Burlington, Vermont (para.2). Bundy was well behaved and grew into an attractive teen who was generally liked and who performed well in school. After high school he entered the University of Puget Sound and continued to do well academically, but felt uncomfortable around his fellow peers who were predominantly wealthy. In his sophomore year Bundy transferred to the University of Washington to escape the uncomfortable feelings of his financial inadequacy (para.3). The events that influenced Bundy towards his criminal behavior were his early addiction to pornography and the break-up of his first wife. According to Montaldo, Throughout his years at high school Bundy suffered from acute shyness that resulted in his appearing socially awkward. This affliction followed him to college and although he had friends he never blended comfortably into doing much of the social activities others were doing. He rarely dated and kept to himself (para.4). Bundy suffered extreme depression over the break up and dropped out of school. It was during this time that he learned the truth that his sister was his mother and his parents were his grandparents. Bundy was also getting a whispered reputation by those close to him for being a petty thief. It was during this phase of his life that shyness was replaced with false bravado and he returned in college, excelled in his major, and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology (para.6). Charles Montaldo, states that in 1974 young women began vanishing from college campuses around Washington and Oregon. Lynda Ann Healy, a 21-year-old radio announcer, was among those who were missing. In July 1974 two women were approached at a Seattle state park by an attractive man who introduced himself as Ted. He asked them to help him with his sailboat but they refused. Later that day two other women were seen going off with him and were never seen alive again (para.9). In November Carol DaRonch was attacked at a Utah mall by a man dressed as a police officer, but she managed to escape. She provided police with a description of the man, the VW he was driving, and a sample of his blood that got on her jacket during the struggle. Within a few hours after DaRonch was attacked, 17-year-old Debbie Kent disappeared (para.10). On January 12, 1975, Caryn Campbell vanished from a ski resort in Colorado while on vacation with her fiancé and his two children. A month later Caryn’s nude body was found lying a short distance from the road. An examination of her remains determined she had received violent blows to her skull. Over the next few moths five more women were found dead in Colorado with similar contusions to their head (para.13). Authorities compared the similarities of the women disappearing. They were all white, thin, and single and had long hair that was parted in the middle. They also vanished during the evening hours. The bodies of the dead women found in Utah had all been hit with a blunt object to the head, raped, and sodomized (para.12). Charles Montaldo, also states that in August 1975 police attempted to stop Bundy for a driving violation. He aroused suspicion when he tried to get away by turning his car lights off and speeding through stop signs. When he was finally stopped his VW was searched and police found handcuffs, and ice pick, crowbar, pantyhose with eyes cut out along with other questionable items. They also saw that the front seat on the passenger side of his car was missing. Police arrested Ted Bundy on suspicion of burglary (para.14). Police compared the things found in Bundy’s car to those DaRonch described seeing in her attackers car. The handcuffs that had been placed around on of her wrists were the same make as those Bundy’s possession. Once DaRonch picked Bundy out of a line-up the police felt they had evidence to charge him with attempted kidnapping (para.15). Bundy went to trial for attempted kidnapping DaRonch in February 1976 and after waiving his right to a jury trial he was found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in prison. During this time police were investigating links to Bundy and the Colorado murders. According to his credit card statements he was in the area where several women vanished in early 1975. In October 1976 Bundy was charged for the murder of Caryn Campbell (para.16). Bundy was extradited from the Utah prison to Colorado for the trial. In June 1977 during a pre-trial hearing he escaped by jumping out of the law library window. He was captured a week later (para.17). On December 30 Bundy escaped from prison again and made his way to Tallahassee, Florida. On Saturday, January 14, Bundy broke into Florida State University’s Chi Omega sorority house and bludgeoned and strangled to death two women, raping one of them and brutally biting her on her buttocks and one nipple. He beat two others over the head with a log. They survived which investigators attribute to fellow roommate Nita Neary, who came home and interrupted Bundy before he was able to kill the other two victims (para.19). On February 9, 1978, Bundy killed again. This time it was 12-year-old Kimberly Leach, who he kidnapped then mutilated. Within a week of the disappearance of Kimberly, Bundy was arrested in Pensacola for driving a stolen vehicle. Investigators had eyewitnesses who identified Bundy at the dorm and at Kimberly’s school. They also had physical evidence that linked him to the three murders, including a mold of the bite marks found on the flesh of the sorority house victim (para.21). Bundy went on trial in Florida on June 25, 1979 for the murders of the sorority women. He was found guilty on both murder charges and given two death sentences by means of the electric chair. On January 7, 1980, Bundy went on trial for the killing of Kimberly Leach and was found guilty and received a third death sentence. After endless appeals Bundy’s last stay of execution was on January 17, 1989. Prior to being put to death Bundy gave the details of more than fifty women he had murdered to Washington State Attorney General’s chief investigator, Dr. Bob Keppel. He also confessed to keeping the heads of some of his victims at his home plus engaging in necrophilia with some of his victims. In his final interview he blamed his exposure to pornography at an impressionable age as being the stimulant behind his murderous obsessions. In the end many directly involved with Bundy believed he murdered at least 100 women (para.27) Bundy falls into the category of the trait theory, because of his early addiction to pornography. He has psychologically developed and transferred his addiction towards his victims. All of his victims were females and were sexually assaulted and some were mutilated, indicating that he had a sexual desire for them like porn.
Part IV- Reflection on Criminology. I believe it is important to be able to differentiate among criminological theories in order to assess criminal behavior motives.
The reason why it is important is because not every criminal is motivated by the same reasons, nor do we know how far their intensions go. In order to determine where these criminals get motivated to do crimes, certain criminological theories need to be followed. There are many different types of serial killers; some are sadists who gain satisfaction from torturing and killing. Another type, the psychopathic killer, is motivated by a character disorder that causes an inability to experience guilt, sorrow, or other normal human emotions; these murders are concerned solely with their own needs and passions. In order to prosecute, sentence, and get a final disposition on these types of killers, certain criminological theories need to be followed to help determine the outcome. It is very important to differentiate criminological theories in order to assess criminal behavior
motives.

Work Cited

Book:
Larry J. Siegel (2010). Criminology (tenth edition). Theories, Patterns, and Typologies.
Website:
Charles Montaldo, (2008). Famous Crimes, serial killer Ted Bundy. Retrieved from http://crime.about.com/od/serial/p/tedbundy.htm