Crime Causation

Crime Causation

This paper discusses about some of the questions related to the case about James T. Johnson, a young twenty-four year old construction worker who lives with his mother. These questions are answered below.

Q. Do you think James learned his behavior from his father? Explain your reasoning.

No. This is because despite being an alcoholic and coming from an abusive family himself, James's father did not commit thievery or robbed other people's home. He did not even spoke or talked with James for his own good and taking precaution to not verbally or physically abuse him. Hence, with no interaction existing amongst both father and son, there is no possible manner that he could have learned such behavior by him.

Q. Could there have been other contributing factors that would have an effect on the problem? Explain.

Possible other contributing factors leading to James's current disposition may have been lack of older or younger siblings. This would have helped him to share his emotional needs and thoughts with them. Similarly, lack of proper role models or mentor for James, to guide and coach him during the difficult time that he was facing, especially during his teenage years, would have helped him to avoid getting into bad company and committing criminal activities.

Q. Do you think that if James were removed from his home as a juvenile, he would have become a burglar?

It is difficult to say that if removing James from the abusive environment of his home and parents would have benefited him in the long-run. Supposedly, if James had been placed in a foster care facility and later on in a foster home, does not guarantee that his new family would have loved or cared for him ideally. Similarly, James was an emotionally deprived child who needed love and care. Thus, by removing such a child from his home to a new unknown environment would have further aggravated his disposition, even leading to severe psychological and emotional disorders.

Q. Are the statements from James about responsibility only used to shift blame? Why or why not?

No they are not, because of his disposition as depicted in the case, his mother should not have blatantly accused him of his conduct or stating that he had turned just like his father. Ignorance by both the parents during the formative years of any child is crucial and both of James parents always argued and fought with one another, ...