Criminal Acts and Choices
Victoria Hopkins
University of Phoenix

Society uses common models to determine what a criminal act is. The Justice System has two models: Consensus Model and Conflict Model. The consensus model is used by the Criminal Justice System (CJS) and it shows that the majority of society shares the same values and beliefs. This model works on the assumption that when people form as a society they will have the same morals and beliefs. They come to an agreement of what are the general norms and values. According to the Consensus Model, crime is anything that goes against the values and beliefs of society and is considered damaging to society. Any individual who performs an action that goes against these values and beliefs are considered a threat to society and need to be punished. Deviant behavior is controlled and prevented by the laws that society passes. The Conflict Model is the model used to determine the content of criminal law. This model is determined by those that hold economic, political, and social power within the community. What is believed to be criminal activity is determined by whichever one of these groups hold the power. Each segment of society (social class, income, age, and race), will have different value systems and shared norms. Each of the society segments is in a constant struggle to have the power in society. There are groups that do not have a political access to the power and so what their interest are, they are not served by the CJS. The choice theory (a.k.a. classical theory) has the concept that all people in society select their behavior. A person can select the behavior of a law-abiding citizen or choose the criminal behavior. The theory believes that a person’s behavior can be controlled by the fear of punishment. Criminal behavior could be controlled possibly if the punishments for the crime committed