AC 4.1: Assess the use of criminological theories of
informing policy development.
1. Informal Policy
- Non-official ideas to prevent crime.
- Informal policy can take place through: community meeting; tenants
associations; establishment of neighbourhood groups e.g. youth groups.
- These informal groups can help crime control in various ways.
2. Formal Policy
- Official ideas to prevent crime e.g. prison sentences or community orders.
- Takes place such as crime control policies or state punishment policies.
Biological theories informing policy development:
Neurochemicals- Diet:
- 2002 Gesch study-> it is possible for diet to positively affect aggressive
behaviour which should reduce crime.
- 231 male prisoners took a nutritional supplement OR a placebo supplement.
- They assessed violent acts and disciplinary actions before and during.
- disciplinary action dropped 35% for people who took the nutritional
compared to 6.7% who took the placebo.
- similar findings for violent acts: 37% drop for nutritional; 10.1% for placebo.
- Vikkunen et al found that violent offenders had a lower than average
serotonin (hormone for a person’s mood or well-being) turnover.
- can be improved by a diet that has serotonin e.g. fresh tuna.
- prisons have now introduced the balance of good health model.
Neurochemicals- Drug Treatments:
- Antabuse-> aversion therapy for alcohol addiction. Prevents the body from
breaking down alcohol. If alcohol is consumed it will create. Strong hangover
from the smallest quantities. Can reduce the level of drink related crimes.
- Heroin addiction can lead to property crime to fund the addiction.
Methadone (substitute) can be used to wean offenders’ dependency on the
drug. Reduces crime as the addict no longer has the dependency, the need for
crime is removed.
- Stilbestrol-> ‘chemical castration’ used in prisons to treat male sex
offenders. It is a female hormone that suppresses the testosterone in a male
reducing their sex drive. However, has side effects such as breast
development, feminisation and psychiatric disorders, therefore is rarely used.
informing policy development.
1. Informal Policy
- Non-official ideas to prevent crime.
- Informal policy can take place through: community meeting; tenants
associations; establishment of neighbourhood groups e.g. youth groups.
- These informal groups can help crime control in various ways.
2. Formal Policy
- Official ideas to prevent crime e.g. prison sentences or community orders.
- Takes place such as crime control policies or state punishment policies.
Biological theories informing policy development:
Neurochemicals- Diet:
- 2002 Gesch study-> it is possible for diet to positively affect aggressive
behaviour which should reduce crime.
- 231 male prisoners took a nutritional supplement OR a placebo supplement.
- They assessed violent acts and disciplinary actions before and during.
- disciplinary action dropped 35% for people who took the nutritional
compared to 6.7% who took the placebo.
- similar findings for violent acts: 37% drop for nutritional; 10.1% for placebo.
- Vikkunen et al found that violent offenders had a lower than average
serotonin (hormone for a person’s mood or well-being) turnover.
- can be improved by a diet that has serotonin e.g. fresh tuna.
- prisons have now introduced the balance of good health model.
Neurochemicals- Drug Treatments:
- Antabuse-> aversion therapy for alcohol addiction. Prevents the body from
breaking down alcohol. If alcohol is consumed it will create. Strong hangover
from the smallest quantities. Can reduce the level of drink related crimes.
- Heroin addiction can lead to property crime to fund the addiction.
Methadone (substitute) can be used to wean offenders’ dependency on the
drug. Reduces crime as the addict no longer has the dependency, the need for
crime is removed.
- Stilbestrol-> ‘chemical castration’ used in prisons to treat male sex
offenders. It is a female hormone that suppresses the testosterone in a male
reducing their sex drive. However, has side effects such as breast
development, feminisation and psychiatric disorders, therefore is rarely used.
