Implications of Choice Theory on Social Policy & Crime

Think of yourself as a rational-thinking individual exercising free will to either commit a crime or not. In that decision-making process, you consider the benefits, rewards, risks, and costs associated with something like stealing a car versus purchasing one. This includes the potential of an arrest, jail, fines, public humiliation, and perhaps the loss of your job. On the other hand, by stealing the car you get an adrenaline rush, a free car, and perhaps a cheap way to take a road trip with little chance of getting a harsh punishment. This is the basis of the choice theory.

Deterrence theory represents the cost of crime through punishment, which motivates individuals to refrain from criminal activity, thus deterring them from crime. The two sub-theories of deterrence are:

1. General deterrence, which refers to deterring individuals that have not yet engaged in crime and is intended to deter the general population.
2. Specific deterrence, which refers to specific individuals who have previously offended, been arrested and punished who choose not to offend in the future based on their experiences.

Choice theory has led to public policies that incentivize non-offending and de-incentivize crime. Deterrence through punishment and incapacitation has prompted policy makers to institute 'get tough' policies of mandatory prison sentences for certain crimes, three-strikes laws to increase jail time, or the death penalty to permanently remove an offender. These policies, based on RCT, are intended to motivate individuals to not offend.

Choice theory is based on rational thinking individuals exercising their free will to make decisions. They can decide to commit a crime, or not. Through rational choice theory (RCT), they make the calculation to offend or not offend through weighing costs and benefits to obtain their personal wants and needs. Elements of deterrence through punishment and incapacitation are weighed in this criminal calculus. Deterrence theory represents the cost of crime through punishment, which motivates individuals to refrain from criminal activity, thus deterring them from crime. The two sub-theories of deterrence are general deterrence, aimed at people who have never offended, and specific deterrence, aimed at previous offenders.

Routine activities theory (RAT) also points out that targeted victims, combined with a lack of guardianship, increases opportunities of crimes committed by motivated offenders. Choice theory has led to public policies that increase the cost of crime through sentencing guidelines, lower the benefit of crime through increased security, increase the benefits of non-offending through community resource programs, and decrease the cost of non-offending through offender re-entry programs into society.