Criminal Behavior and Toxic Environment

Abstract

Crime and society appear as two inseparable concepts. In defining crime and attempting to uncover its causes, it is crucial to consider social concepts and processes. Since crime is defined through actions, it can be considered a dynamic phenomenon rather than a static one. This dynamism allows crime to manifest itself differently across societies and over time. Consequently, individuals, in regulating their behaviors throughout their lives, are primarily influenced by their families and environments. In terms of ensuring social welfare, penalties determined by laws alone are not sufficient. Hence, arises the necessity of crime prevention before it occurs. By implementing improvements in the environmental and societal domains, this imperative becomes more attainable. Consequently, the examination of social and environmental factors has increasingly been integrated into crime prevention programs. In this section, information regarding the relationship between the environment, society, and criminal behavior has been provided. Furthermore, the effects of a toxic environment on individuals’ inclination toward crime have been thoroughly examined within a theoretical framework, and the discussed topics have been debated in a manner that would contribute to the momentum of studies revealing the social and environmental dynamics of criminal behavior.