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Discuss whether some environments are more ‘criminogenic’ than

others, and why this is (or is not) the case.

“Try a crime you end a criminal, treat an environment you end crime,” wrote Abhijit Naskar a

Neuroscientist and an expert on human behaviour, in his book Sleepless for Society. This supports

the argument that some environments are more ‘criminogenic’ than others. (Naskar,2020). The

relationship between the environment and human behaviour has long been a subject of interest and

debate. Criminogenic risk factors include environments or situations that raise the possibility and

likelihood of criminal behaviour (Law insider,2018). This could be economic conditions, culturally

based norms, or other social gatherings where someone may be encouraged to commit a crime. This

essay will explore an argument whether crime is influenced by environment and are some

environments more criminogenic than others or if it is what occurs in these environments that

trigger criminal behaviour.

Body Paragraph 1 Against

Poverty is not having the ability to meet basic needs these include providing food clothing or

shelter. When individuals are raised in poverty, they are likely to see crime being committed as those

around them are committing crime to escape poverty or entertain themselves. Therefore, due to lack

of good role models people believe its ok to commit crime. In order to meet their basic needs or to Commented [HM1]: Fixing the disadvantaged
environment

escape the cycle of poverty. In an Australian Bureau of Statistics blog titled “social and economic Commented [HM2]: Not Needed

wellbeing of aboriginal and Torres strait islander people with disability” it states that Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Islander people are more likely than other Australians to experience various forms of
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disadvantage, including higher unemployment rates, poverty, isolation, trauma, discrimination,

exposure to violence, trouble with the law and alcohol and substance abuse. Due to this

disadvantage some indigenous families may experience poverty which means that because they

can’t get basic needs they live in an environment that is negative and when they unable to receive

the help they need from relatives or Centrelink they can offend to provide basic need to their family.

Therefore, leading to crimes like robbery, Motor theft. This is evident through various news, media

and newspaper articles and which report out of control youths in Alice Springs becoming violent and

hostile causing businesses to close down to minimise losses and destruction. It is important to note

that poverty is not the only cause of crime and not all people commit crime. An individual choices

and personal circumstances and social factors can play a role.

It can also be argued that environments are not criminogenic but what has happened in that

negative or positive environment has an influence on someone committing crime.

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The Social Learning Theory suggests that criminal behaviour is not simply a result of individual

factors such as personality or biology, but is also influenced by environmental factors such as family,

peers, and neighbourhood. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the social context in

which criminal behaviour occurs and the role of socialization in shaping criminal behaviour. For

example domestic violence, in a house where domestic violence is present a child may learn violent

behaviour through observation of watching a parent. Therefore, it can be argued that it is not the

environment but what is happening in the environment. Although someone may grow up wealthy
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and privileged they can be living with abusive parents or caregivers and feel that committing a crime

is only way to escape the person this comes down to nature vs nurture. This is demonstrated through

the Menedez brothers, Lyle and Erik Menendez who gained national attention after murdering their

parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989. The brothers charged with

counts of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

(https://murderpedia.org/male.M/m/menendez-brothers.htm ) During the trial the brothers

revealed that their father was abusing the physically ,emotionally and sexually arguing that they had

to kill there parents as a form of self-defence the team argued that their parents had subjected them

to a lifetime of abuse. In a 1996 ABC news interview with Barbara Walter. She asked “ why did you

murder your parents that night” Erick responded with “ I was so afraid a few days before I had said

I’m never going to let him touch me again” he also expressed that his father told him to get upstairs

and that there was going to be sex after this interaction he made the decision to murder his parents.

Furthermore in the court case it is revealed that Erick wrote a letter to his cousin telling him that the

assault was still happening and that it had become

worse.(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KhJJDAFhjQ ). The story of the Menendez brothers

appears to point that although they were wealthy and privileged the abuse was to much for them

therefore this means that just because you are in an environment where your advantaged and

appear to be less ‘criminogenic’ doesn’t necessarily mean you are not going go to commit a crime as

the environment isn’t the factor effecting decisions but what is going on in the environment is as

seen with the brothers .

Criminogenic definition (2018) Law Insider. Available at:

Merriam-Webster (ed.) (2023) Criminal definition & meaning, Merriam-Webster. Merriam-