What is a Career Criminal?
Identifying and understanding the traits and behaviors of career criminals is crucial for law enforcement agencies, policymakers, and society as a whole to develop effective strategies for preventing crime and addressing the root causes of criminal behavior.
So, what is a career criminal? A career criminal is an individual who engages in a pattern of criminal activity over an extended period of time, often ranging from several years to an entire lifetime. These offenders are driven by a lifestyle of crime, and it is not uncommon for them to have started committing crimes during their teenage years or earlier.
Characteristics of Career Criminals
Career criminals exhibit distinct characteristics that separate them from other types of offenders. Some of these characteristics include:
• Early Start: Career criminals often start committing crimes in their early teens or adolescence. This early start suggests that they may have gotten involved in criminal activity early in life, which increases the likelihood of them staying involved.
• Wide Range of Offenses: Career criminals are not typically limited to one type of crime. They may have a long history of diverse criminal behavior, including assault, burglary, drug use and sales, theft, and fraud.
• High Rate of Recidivism: Career criminals frequently return to crime after periods of imprisonment or other setbacks. In fact, estimates suggest that up to 70% of career offenders will be rearrested within two years of being released from prison [1].
• Complex Networks of Associates: Career criminals often have extensive social networks that involve other individuals who also engage in illegal activities. These networks are crucial for their criminal Enterprises and may involve drug-trafficking, extortion, and other forms of serious crime.
Types of Career Criminals
Several types of career criminals are commonly recognized, including:
• Professional Criminal: This type of career criminal is typically highly organized, skilled, and experienced in their criminal activities. Profits are often the motivator, and they have a sophisticated understanding of crime and its consequences.
• Substance-Using Offender: This subtype is driven by addiction rather than profit. They typically engage in criminal activity in order to support their own drug use or to help fund the drug habits of others.
• Domestic Abuser: Another type of career criminal includes individuals who engage in continuous domestic abuse, often targeted at partners or family members. These offenders may resort to violence, intimidation, and coercion to maintain a sense of control.
Causes of Career Criminality
Several factors may contribute to an individual developing a career of criminal behavior. These include:
Environmental Factors
• Poverty and socio-economic disadvantage may increase the likelihood of individual involvement in criminal activity due to lack of opportunities.
• Poor education and work skills can limit job options, making criminal activity attractive.
• Family history, such as having a close relative involved in crime can increase an individual’s familiarity with and exposure to the criminal justice system.
Biological and Psychological Factors
• Neuropsychological Deficits: Some studies suggest that those with specific neuropsychological deficits may be more inclined to engage in criminal behaviors due to difficulties with inhibitory control, decision making, and impulse control.