Criminological Theory and Analysis of Kala Brown Kidnapping Case

Running head: CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORY
CRIMINOGICAL THEORY
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Author Note

CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORY1
Introduction
This essay would be discussing about the theoretical perspective used for analysing
crime. The theories that would be discussed in the essay are deterrence theory, rational choice
theory, routine activities theory, biological/biosocial theory and psychological theory. These
theories would be discussed in detail in respect to an actual crime that has occurred. The
crime selected to be analysed in this essay is a kidnapping case where the kidnapper was later
found out to be guilty of multiple charges of murders. The case that has been selected is the
Kala Brown kidnapping case.
The Crime
According to the facts that could be found about the case it can be observed that Kala
Brown and her boyfriend Charles David Carver went missing since 31st August 2016 after
going to the residence of the Kohlhepps’ for work. By way of tracing down the last known
signals of the cellphones owned by the couple, the investigator found the body of Carver on
the property of the Kohlhepps’. Multiple gunshot wounds were found on the victim’s body.
Brown was found by the investigators to be chained up against a wall inside of a storage
container that was kept in the property. Brown testified about witnessing that Todd Kohlhepp
shot and killed her boyfriend and then keeping her chained up in a metal container for months
and raping her. She further helped the investigators to dig up the bodies of two people from
the property, who were later found out to be also working for the Kohlhepps’ (Express.co.uk.
2017). After his arrest, Todd Kohlhepp was seen to confess the crimes committed by him and
he further informed the investigators that previously he had been involved in four other
murders. The investigators further found that he had previously been arrested and served jail
term during his teenage years for kidnapping and raping at gunpoint a fourteen year old girl.

CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORY2
Theoretical Explanations
In the essay the crimes committed by Todd Kohlhepp have been analyzed in
accordance with the theoretical perspectives used for the analysis of crime. The theories that
are discussed in this essay are the deterrence theory, rational choice theory, routine activities
theory, biological/biosocial theories and psychological theories.
Deterrence Theory
The main basis for the deterrence theory in criminology is that individuals would be
deterred from the commitment of crimes if they are threatened by harsher punishments (Lilly,
Cullen & Ball. 2018). Two different aspects of punishments are seen as impacting the theory
of deterrence. The certainty of punishment is the first aspect which proposes that increase in
the likelihood of punishment would make individuals deterrent towards crime. Severity of the
crime is the second aspect of the deterrence theory which proposes that if for any particular
crime the punishment is severe then the potential offenders would be influenced into
considering that the crime is not worth the punishment (Reid. 2015). According to the theory
the crime happened because Kohlhepp was not aware of the harshness of the punishment.
However, this is not the case as Kohlhepp was punished previously with a jail term for
kidnapping and raping a minor, yet the fear of punishment did not deter him from committing
the crimes. Therefore this theory cannot be applied in the case.
Rational Choice Theory
Although doubted by many criminologists about its applicability in the criminal
theories, the rational choice theory states that human beings are our national and self-
interested and are seem to be affected by the results of the actions taken by them (Clarke &
Felson. 2017). As per the theory a criminal behaviour would be no different from any
behaviour that is non criminal in the way that any person would be choosing to crime