Causal theories of crime and their effect upon expert parole decisions.

Abstract

Criminal justice experts and laypeople seek to understand the causes of criminal behavior in order to promote social programs and individualized treatments that can reduce the amount of crime. The reaction to crime and criminals in part depends upon what is perceived to have caused people to violate the law, with such causal attribution being prevalent in public opinion polls, political ideology, scientific theories of criminogenesis, and correctional approaches in the criminal justice system. Research with expert parole decision makers is reviewed and used as an example of the amount and variety of attributions about crime and how the particular attribution made about an offender affects decisions about him or her. Specifically, offenders whose crimes are attributed to stable, enduring causes are considered worse parole risks (more likely to commit future crimes) and receive less favorable parole recommendations.