Criminology Forum: Crime Classification, Deviance, and Cure

This discussion forum post delves into the core concepts of criminology, examining the rationality behind crime and its classification. The post explores whether crime and its classification are entirely rational or if rationality is bound by other factors. It analyzes the Australian crime classification system, differentiating between felonies, misdemeanors, felony misdemeanors, and infractions, and connects these classifications to rational choice theory, which posits that criminals make rational decisions despite potential consequences. The post then addresses the complexities of curing deviance within the framework of psychological positivism, which presents various conflicting theories. It discusses how deviance is a violation of social norms and how psychological factors such as mental stress and personality traits influence criminal behavior. The post concludes that while some criminal behaviors may be medically curable, treating deviance involves fostering a positive environment and changing the individual's perspective. The post references several academic sources to support its arguments, providing a comprehensive overview of criminology and its related theories.

Discussion Forum

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
FORUM 1........................................................................................................................................3
Is the crime and its classification completely rational or is the rationality bound ?...................3
FORUM 2........................................................................................................................................4
How can we cure deviance when the psychological positivism has many distinct and
conflicting theories?....................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Criminology is a study of the crime from the point of view of society. It not only study
the crime but also its impact on society, the causes of crime and the characteristic of individuals
who commits the crime. The main focus of criminology is what makes the person commit any
crime or the act in the criminal manner (Pridemore, Makel & Plucker, (2018)). This report shall
deal with the rationality of crime and how deviance can be cured from psychological positivism
when it has many conflicting and distinct theories.
FORUM 1
Is the crime and its classification completely rational or is the rationality bound ?
Crime is the unlawful act which is punishable by the state or any other authority. It is an
act which is not only harmful to the particular person but to the society, community and the state.
Such kind of act are punishable and forbidden by the law. The crimes in Australia are classified
on the basis of severity of punishment which is called grading. The crimes are graded into four
types which are discussed below-
 Felonies- These are the most serious crimes and are supported by heinous intent such as
intention to kill , grievous injury or the destruction of the property. These are graded the
highest and all the sentencing options are available which may be prison time, execution,
fine or the alternate sentencing like rehabilitation, probation and the home confinement. Misdemeanors- These are less serious as compared to felonies. These are punishable by
the jail time of one year, fine or other sentencing alternative such as rehabilitation,
probation or the community service. Jails and prisons are different as the former is
operated by counties and cities and the later is operated by the federal or state
government, depending upon the crime. Felony misdemeanors- These are such crimes for which government can punish and
prosecute as either the felony or the misdemeanors. This discretion lies on judges but in
some cases, prosecutor can also punish.
 Infractions- These are also known as violations which are least serious offences which
are punishable generally by fine or other sentencing alternatives like traffic school
(Lauritsen & Cork, (2017)).

Since the humans commit the crime on the basis of their rational behaviour which is their
personal choice and the result of individual decision. The crimes are classified on the basis of
their severity of punishment which is very rational as the crimes are committed by the person
with their personal choice so they are entitled to the punishment based on severity of crime.
According to the rational choice theory, criminals are rational in the decision of committing the
crime despite its consequences as no person is born criminal, rather their background,
environment and other internal factors instigates the person to commit such crime which may
lead to punishment. So the classification of crime on the basis of severity of punishment is
rational as the criminal commit crime with their personal choice (White, (2018, July))
FORUM 2
How can we cure deviance when the psychological positivism has many distinct and conflicting
theories?
Deviance is the violation that has been established in all the cultural, social norms with
which the person tries to effect the life of the individual. There has been given that all the crimes
that are being covered under it amounts to deviance such as the in tolerable crimes like murder
rape, or any social deviance like not treating the person properly. The illegal acts and the areas
through which any life is being affected. The nature and the deviance mainly occur in the
behaviour of an person in order to interpret and examine the rationale of crimes that are being
conducted by that person.
All the criminals tends to cover some psychological behaviour as there has been seen that
many of the theories were being generated which implies that all the crime are the state of mental
stress and the illness, ego and perception. There has been framed that such crimes can
contemplates to work according to the nature and the thinking ability of that person. A kind of
personality trait use to develop min an individual in order to make them work with all the nature
and the crime in work in any area. There has been analysed that all such methods and the use of
course which overs the contemplation.
Although there are distinct theories that has led out that the criminal nature of the person
cannot be cured in order that it is already being framed in the nature of that person and in there
perception. But in order to cure deviance there the individuals should try to maintain the peace of
mind in the person who is suffering or going through the phase of an ego. All then mental stress

can there by be related in order to remove the stress which was being made by them. All the
deviance can be treated as by reforming the criminals in a proper learning and by providing them
the stability in there mind. As whereas has been analysed that all such theories covers the impact
and the generosity through which the criminal tends to adapt that behaviour and the manner but
bin certain areas there can be made any cultural and the self growth in the person by counselling
and all the generosity that has been given to that person (Cale, (2018)).
Thus all the cure of the deviance can impart be made by making the balance in the life
and the health of mental and physical well being of the person. There can be analysed that all the
traits and the balanced nature by giving the proper surrounding frames out the work which is
important. There are certain criminal factors which can be medically cured and the rest deviance
is being controlled by the manner of framing the balance in there life and changing there
perspective of seeing the individual.
CONCLUSION
From this above report it is concluded that, criminology is the study of the crimes which
occurred in the society. The crimes are usually being classified on the severalty of punishments
and there has been taken them as a rational area of crimes as it also covers the state of mind of
the person. Furthermore, it is also analysed that deviance mainly occur due to the nature and the
ill state of mind in the person and can be cured by giving them positive environment.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Cale, J. (2018). Classification of perpetrators of sexual offences. In Sexual offending: a
criminological perspective (pp. 326-348). Routledge.
Lauritsen, J. L., & Cork, D. L. (2017). Expanding our understanding of crime: The National
Academies Report on the future of crime statistics and measurement. Criminology &
Public Policy, 16(4), 1075-1098.
Pridemore, W. A., Makel, M. C., & Plucker, J. A. (2018). Replication in criminology and the
social sciences. Annual Review of Criminology, 1, 19-38.
White, S. C. (2018, July). Hiding the boats: Australia's classification of information relating to
smuggled persons. In AIAL Forum (No. 92, pp. 12-35).