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Essay on Juvenile Deliquency - Lee Boyd Malvo

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Edwin H. Sutherland’s formulation of differential association theory proposed that delinquency, like any other form of behavior, is a product of social interaction. On October 14th, 2002, 17 year old Lee Boyd Malvo was charged by the state of Virginia for two capital crimes: the murder of FBI analyst Linda Franklin "in the commission of an act of terrorism" and the murder of more than one person in a three-year period. Sutherland’s nine propositions of differential association best explains Malvo’s act for the following reasons: (1) Malvo learned how to commit each heinous crime through his social interaction within his intimate group, (2) Malvo learned the techniques to commit each crime through his mentor, i.e. learning the skills …show more content…

Edwin H. Sutherland’s propositions of differential association argues criminal behavior, like any other behavior, is learned from others. That is, “delinquent behavior is not an inherited trait but rather an acquired one” (Juvenile Delinquency, p.153). Sutherland claims that criminal behavior/ juvenile delinquency is learned through a youth’s relationship within intimate personal groups. These intimate groups are far more influential for adolescents than any other form of communication such as the media. In the case of Lee Boyd Malvo, he had a personal relationship with Muhammad, Malvo’s mother ex-boyfriend. After Malvo’s biological father left his mother, she often left Malvo unattended and in the care of friends. Malvo’s mother eventually abandoned him again which he then went to live with Muhammad, a gulf war veteran, who had became his father figure, friend and mentor. Malvo’s longing for a father was replaced by Muhammad and the duration of his time outside of school was with Muhammad. Malvo had only been living in the United States for a year after migrating from Jamaica, before he moved in with Muhammad. One can assume that Malvo became attached to Muhammad because he lacked a father figure as well as companionship in a new country where he felt alienated from family and friends in Jamaica. Muhammad later converted Malvo to Islam.
If the principal learning of criminal behavior occurs within intimate personal groups, differential association

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