SOC446H5 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Social Capital, Shoplifting
Document Summary
I employ a lifecourse perspstive to describe and analyze the criminal careers of persisten t thieves. I shall pay attention particularly to changes in offending that accompany aging and how t hese are explained by the changing calculus of decisionmaking. As it turns out, they are remarkably similar to agerelated changes in noncriminal males. Few juveniles who engage in delinquency become chronic offenders. Although they are prime candidates for participation in robbery and theft when they become adults, even most of these chronic delinquents eventually drop out of serious crime. (by their early to mid 20"s) Criminal careers: patterned changes in offenders" behavior and perspectives during the period bounded by their first and final serious criminal acts. Sustained participation in crime sensitizes the thief to stimuli and meanings he was unaw are of previously. It also causes them to see and appreciate criminal opportunities that do not exist for those without criminal experience.
