Week Two - e Exercise - CJ Case Stephen Krist Q/A Summary PDF

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CJ Case Stephen Krist Q/A Summary...

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Week Two Exercise

The Case of Gary Stephen Krist Introduction to Criminology! How might Katz’s “seductions of crime” perspective explain the feelings the young Krist reported having?

Jack Katz in his famous book Seductions of Crime defines that crime is primarily resulted because of “often wonderful attractions within the lived experience of criminality”. This means that while committing an activity that is criminal, the person committing it derives pleasure from this act, and this is the main motive behind criminal behavior. However, Katz goes on to describe that this said pleasure might not always be immediate or very prominent or visible. But nonetheless this reward or pleasure is the cause of a person being part of a crime.! In the case of Gary Stephen Krist, from early ages the subject had been consciously taking part in criminal activity and the pleasure as Katz suggested not only existed but was one of the primary motives behind the subject’s behavior. His hatred for authority and committing crime to fulfill that feeling of hate is the pleasure that he obtained from his criminal actions. This was the subject’s main reason to commit crime and this aligns perfectly with the theory of Katz. Therefore, Katz perspective of criminal activity fits perfectly to the feelings the subject had from an early stage in his life.! Classical criminology says that crime can be rewarding. Might camaraderie with other offenders be one of its rewards?

Classical criminology says that humans are rational beings and when indulging in criminal activity, they have a cost-benefit analysis and weigh the risk and reward factor involved in criminal activity. The suggestion here is that this benefit or reward is the main motive behind crime and that before committing a crime, the criminal has made a conscious decision of ignoring the risks and taking part in criminal activity.! I think that camaraderie with other offenders will only be a reward as long as it is beneficial for the parties involved. If one party feels that there is not a reward attached to this relationship, they are more likely to not indulge in said friendships. For example, two prison mates will only be there for each other if it benefits them. If the relationship does not produce any reward for the involved parties, it is less likely to be long term. Therefore, camaraderie will only be in play when it is rewarding and unlikely to survive in the absence of said reward.

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