Theories Of Critical Criminology

Critical Criminology’ It is mesmerizing listening to the accounts that transpire when a murderer is reciting the events that led to the death of another human being. It is difficult to process all the information coming from a mild mannered well-spoken individual. Was it the background of his or her childhood that drew you in just enough to feel sorry for them? Was it the passive aggressive behavior of one or more of the parent’s relentless beating down the psyche of an otherwise smart, articulate individual? As the conversations continues, the goosebumps suddenly jump out of your skin; consequently, not for the sorrow felt for the tormented child in the story you want to save. The goosebumps leap off your skin when your brain processes the information it just heard. The gun raised and the bullet found its way into my mother. Yes, your brain just processed this data and the realization of sitting across form a murderer is back to the forefront of the brain. How could such conflict as a child manifest into such a heinous act of crime?
Theory of Critical Criminology
The study of those whom break the law or commit a crime is critical criminology; therefore the depiction of a victimized boy who killed his mother requires a deep penetrating investigation into the man’s psyche in order to understand how such a violent act could have happened (Critical Criminology, 2016).
How could any child kill a parent? This is a daunting question which begins as a young family is consistently abused physically and mentally by a father. For the majority, to hear that a child killed a parent is unfathomable; consequently, to hear that a child is so distraught from a life of abuse he or she contemplates suicide is equally
unfathomable. In a desperate attempt to understand the conflict a person suffered as a child which led to the impulsive murder of his or her mother one must understand the international theory. In fact, Terence Thornberry’s interactional theory combines social structure, control, and learning theories to help understand the environment that leads to wrongdoing (Hagen, 2013). A glimpse into the troubled past of a child that shoots his mother during an emotional breakdown will not justify the event; however, it may enable society a slight understanding of the mental breakdown. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) speak volumes on the correlation of child maltreatment and the long-term effect it can have on a child well into adulthood (CDC, 2016). Regardless of intellectual capacity, the psyche of the mind can be warped into a state that suicidal thoughts are prevalent and criminal acts can happen without warning.
Maltreatment Leads to Violence Can society ever support the murder of a family member? It is not uncommon to hear of a self-defense; however, these are typically acute cases of home invasion or other criminal acts where one’s life is placed at risk or in harm’s way. Regrettably, children are often the silent victims of when domestic abuse is thought of. Similar to “Richard” and his two sisters who were victimized emotionally and physically by their father, the mother is often resented just as much for not stepping in to protect her children (Baird & Salmon, 2006). While it may be impossible to know for sure; however, stewing in a stupor of suicidal thoughts in a dark room with a gun in hand, contemplating all the wrongdoing suffered for a lifetime may have led to the impulse shooting of “Richards” mother when she inadvertently interrupted him. It is unimaginable to associate reasoning to such an act of violence; however, the mental state of a criminal must be considered. In a court of law, the intent to commit a crime is condemning as the capacity to understand what one is accused of doing (Coffey, 2009). While it appears that “Richard” did not intend to kill his mother that dreadful day, his mental state at the time was certainly not rational. Suicidal thoughts are not rational thoughts; consequently, he was drowning in them from a lifetime of abuse and neglect. If fact, it is imperative for the field of criminology to continue theorizing criminal typologies to help understand and predict the potential of wrongdoing (Hagen, 2013). Much like a vehicle accident, the driver is not intending to kills a pedestrian while driving to the store; regrettably, it does happen. The driver, if following the rules and regulations, is not typically going to be charged with murder. It would seem no different for a mentally unstable person under great duress to be capable of murder even if he or she pulls the trigger that kills another.
Societies Position The unexpected death of a family member will never be understood by all; therefore, expecting a position of understanding towards a criminal claiming mental illness as a defense is understandably nonexistent. Family members will likely desire some semblance of justice to vindicate the loss of a loved one. In fact, society will continue to struggle with mental illness as an accountability defense. It is not tangible enough to comprehend in the wake of injustice and premature death of a loved one (Felthous, 1999). However, society as a whole may be more understanding than a distraught family member which defense lawyers know to be true. A representation of society is a jury of peers in a criminal trial; therefore, guilty by means of insanity or mental illness in not uncommon. An afterthought to the prevalence of parental murder in America is the access to the weapon of choice for this act. America was practically founded on the notion that its citizens hold the right to bear arms; therefore, the weapon of choice or possibly convenience is utilizing a gun to commit murder towards a parent (Heide, 1993). The fact that a gun is terribly effective when used as a killing device may skew the results higher when utilized. In case study of “Richard” who killed his mother when he was interrupted during a suicidal incident fails to understand the abuse by his father to justify it. Gun control advocates oftentimes claim that crime would be diminished if stricter controls were in place; therefore, heinous acts such as this could have been avoided.
Conclusion

It is regrettable that no amount of research or understanding will bring back those lost in acts of violence such as “Richard” killing his mother whilst in a stupor of emotion and ill thoughts of abuse. Researchers must strive to understand the psyche of the individuals that react in this manner in order to understand and possibly prevent future occurrences. Criminal typologies, such as Thornberry’s interaction theory, may define the social structure and environment leading to “Richard’s” breakdown and ultimately killing his mother. He and his siblings were abused and therefore socially awkward; however, of the three siblings only one committed a murder. It could be circumstantial or inevitable that one of the three attempted suicide or committed murder against those expected to nurture and protect them. Researchers must continue to intervene and study cases similar to this in order to thwart the chances of it repeating elsewhere.