Mann_Jonica_Developmental Theories of Crime
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Developmental Theories of Crime
Jonica Mann
College of Humanities and Social Science, Grand Canyon University
JUS-212: Criminal Behavior and Victimology
Mark Sims
November 12, 2023
1
Introduction
The infamous Green River Killer, Gary Ridgway, offers a terrifying case study for
examining life path criminals via the perspective of developmental theories of crime. Married
and a father, Gary Ridgeway would pick up ladies or prostitutes from the Seattle Strip, strangle
them, and then dump their bodies beside the river. When it was discovered that Gary's DNA
matched a semen sample discovered on one of the victims, it was revealed that Gary had been
taken in by police in 2001 as a suspect in several of the homicides (Hupp, 2006). At his sentence,
Gary Ridgeway displayed pleasure in his actions and acknowledged that he had brutally
murdered 48 individuals (Hupp, 2006). He also said that he thought the women were garbage
(Hupp, 2006). He had no memory of any of his victims' appearances or of the murders (Hupp,
2006). Given that Ridgway's criminal past spans multiple decades and involves many victims, it
is possible to investigate how theories related to life course, latent characteristic, and trajectory
may explain why he continues to commit crimes.
Criminology Theories
According to the Life Course Theory, a person's criminal behavior changes over the
course of their life because of a variety of circumstances, including relationships, social
experiences, and life events (Siegel, 2018). This argument is supported by Ridgway's illegal
actions, which transpired over a prolonged duration. Ridgway was born in 1949, although his
criminal history goes back to his adolescence (Levi-Minzi, & Shields, 2007). Among his early
run-ins with the law were accusations of property offenses and soliciting prostitutes. This
trajectory implies that his upbringing, surroundings, and individual decisions all played a role in
the development of his criminal tendencies. However, Latent Trait Theory proposes that people
have innate qualities or features that make them more likely to commit crimes (O’Connell, D,
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2003). There are hints of latent qualities that would have been relevant in Ridgway's situation.
According to reports, he experienced abuse as a child and had a rocky relationship with his
controlling mother (Levi-Minzi, & Shields, 2007). It is possible that latent characteristics, such a
lack of empathy or an impulse for aggression, emerged early and influenced his criminal career.
According to the trajectory theory, a variety of life circumstances might cause criminal behavior
to shift over time (Siegel, 2018). There are observable changes in the type and gravity of
Ridgway's offenses. Although he committed property crimes and other less violent crimes in his
early criminal history, he eventually turned to serial killings. This pattern is consistent with
trajectory theory, which suggests that conditions and events in life can affect a criminal's course
(Siegel, 2018).
Trajectory Theories
It is important to recognize these theories' shortcomings in explaining Ridgway's repeated
offenses, though. The intricate relationship between nature and nurture is one important
component. Although developmental theories place a strong emphasis on environmental factors,
Ridgway's instance also calls into question the possible influence of biological elements or
mental health conditions. There may be more information on latent qualities that interact with
environmental factors from theories such as psychopathy or biosocial perspectives. Moreover,
several components of life course theory are called into question by Ridgway's ability to lead an
apparently normal existence despite committing heinous crimes. He continued to work during
the years he committed the killings, managed to avoid detection for a considerable amount of
time, and even got married. The difference in his life—his ability to divide illegal action into
discrete areas—might not precisely fit the continuous and dynamic character that life course
theory suggests. Taking these theories into account, it seems that a blend of trajectory, latent
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characteristic, and life course theories contributes to a thorough understanding of Ridgway's
ongoing criminal activity. Trajectory theory helps explain the changes in the intensity and nature
of his offenses, life course theory explains how his criminal behavior has changed over time, and
latent trait theory illuminates potential risk factors (Johnson et al, 2016).
Conclusion
In summary, understanding the ongoing criminal behavior of a life cycle offender
involves a comprehensive examination of the difficult case of Gary Ridgway. When analyzing
the complex dynamics of criminal conduct throughout the course of an individual's life,
developmental theories of crime provide insightful information, but their limitations emphasize
the necessity for a complex and comprehensive approach.
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References
Hupp, S. L. (2006, March 15). Prothero, Mark with Carlton Smith.
Defending Gary: Unraveling
the Mind of the Green River Killer.
Library Journal, 131(5), 84.
Johnson, W. L., Giordano, P. C., Longmore, M. A., & Manning, W. D. (2016, October 12).
Parents, Identities, and Trajectories of Antisocial Behavior from Adolescence to Young
Adulthood
. Journal of Developmental and Life-Course Criminology; Springer
Science+Business Media. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40865-016-0044-3
Levi-Minzi, & Shields (2007)
Serial Sexual Murderers and Prostitutes as Their Victims:
Difficulty Profiling Perpetrators and Victim Vulnerability as Illustrated by the Green
River Case.
Retrieved November 8, 2023, from
http://triggered.edina.clockss.org/ServeContent?rft_id=info:doi/10.1093/brief-
treatment/mhl021#:~:text=Although%20no%20known%20official%20diagnosis,were
%20undoubtedly%20gratuitous%20and%20sadistic.
O’Connell, D. (2003). Investigating latent trait and life course theories as predictors of
recidivism among an offender sample. JOURNAL OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, 31(5),
455–467. https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/S0047-2352(03)00050-3
Siegel, L. J. (2018).
Criminology: Theories, patterns, and typologies
(13th ed.). Belmont, CA:
Thomson Wadsworth. ISBN-13: 9781337091848
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