CBC's The Fifth Estate: Behind the Wall
Introduction
Humanity is an element that since time in memorial sought to keep the human race in check and to a larger extend distinguish humans as the superior species on the planet. Yet, every so often, an isolated event occurs that then rips off this fabric and leads to the question of whether indeed humanity still does exist. Yet, to keep society in order, a system has been placed in order whereby the criminally liable in society can be held accountable for there actions. However, how does society treat these people? In most cases, there is a justifiable reason as to why human behavior. This is by examining the actions committed by criminal individuals whether intentionally or unintentionally and if in fact to a larger extend whether they were influenced or not. This was the case in CBC's The Fifth Estate: Behind the Wall.
Ashley Smith’s story not only outlines the serious flaws that can be found in a loose justice system but also clearly outlines the stereotypical thinking that is in most of societies that often than not end up hurting those in the criminal justice system. This particular documentary also clearly outlines criminal behavior in humans, and how society in most ways influences, to a larger extend, that particular behavior through action taken (Williams & McShane, 1998). Over the years, criminological theories have existed that have sought to explain criminal behavior and what Influences the actions taken by societies criminals.
Criminological theories
There are a number of very evident criminological theories that outline themselves in ‘The Fifth Estate: Behind the Wall’ documentary. These theories to a larger extend not only seek to explain the actions taken by Ashley Smith once inside the justice system by also what may have led to her criminal behavior in the first place (Vito & Maahs, 2012).
In Ashley Smith’s case, there is an element of the positivist theory that can be examined at two stages of her ‘criminal life’. Before the final arrest, this girl had been in trouble for committing minor felonies. There was a noted behavioral change that shifted towards criminal behavior that her parents had noted. This particular theory propagates that biological deficiency as well as psychological and sociological factors determine whether an individual causes a crime or not (Cullen & Agnew, 2003). In Ashley’s case, it was determined that she was mentally unsound but only after she had showcased multiple criminal characteristics.
Initially, the crime committed by Ashley were seen as an antique to be able to gain attention since she was foster care system, however, further cases revealed that she was suffering from ADHD, learning disorder, borderline personality disorder and narcissistic personality traits. All of these diagnoses more often than not are linked with criminal behavior that is in most cases disruptive. What is sad however is the fact that this particular individual had already showcased signs of disruptive behavior not only in school but also in society, however, it had taken a great number of crime committing for the system to acknowledge that there was a problem that bordered on the psychological as far as Ashley was concerned. There are studies that have effectively linked crime committing with children that are in the fostering system. By examining, the environment as well as the psychological factors that surrounded that particular girl, then one would understand why she was likely to gravitate towards crime (Siegel, 2013).
The social disorganization theory is also evident in this particular documentary. This particular theory propagates that crime is caused by the existence of disorganized communities. This is because of the informal social controls that break down leading to the emergence of criminal culture (Rafter, 2008). Social disorganization is viewed in the way society and the criminal system handle Ashley’s case. It was only after she had committed a number of misdemeanor felonies that she had been taken for psychological assessment which had come out clean in the first instance. Further commission of crime was what had revealed that she was mentally unsound.
The criminal justice system can also be faulted to a larger extend. This is because of turning a simple 30 day sentence into a four year process. Without a doubt, this would have left a mark on the life on the child with a disturbed past who was then being exposed to a process that was likely to leave a dent in her life, thus her last resort. Clearly, whilst the correctional system has been put in place, the system was flawed enough not only not to notice a potential problem but slow enough to take Acton when it was needed. Similarly, there is a mention of the fact that the deceased was a time transferred to 17 different facilities in a single year. This leaves a sense of uncertainty as well as unrest to any individual who has to be constantly moved from one facility to the other with a short spurn of time (Cullen et.al, 2006). It can be argued that the delay in justice ‘social disorder’ led to the demise of Ms Ashley Smith.
Crime can be learnt through association. This was the case as far as Ashley was concerned. The Differential Association Theory suggests that an individual is mostly able to learn certain behaviors through their interactions with other individuals with those characters. This can best be termed as influences. Like most teenagers her age, Ashley was clearly undergoing a rebellious phase that needed to be handled. There is a high probability that interaction with antisocial peers is likely to lead to crime (Lilly et.al, 2010). However, the handling of that phase is what kept her going back to crime. It was clear that prior to the main sentence, the girl had been in and out of court on several occasions and seemed not to e learning anything. Fact is that her influence and the company she was keeping clearly were not helping her. This exposure to the criminal system for that period of time meant that she also got to interact with other like her in the correctional facilities. Thus, rather than learning a lesson from the mistakes she had committed, she was further influenced down the wrong path. Towards, her suicide, she was more stubborn and committed self injury. In fact the correctional staff stated that she often advised them that she could afford to do dangerous things to herself and other for she knew that it was the staffs’ job to protect her. This dangerous yet cocky culture is one that she would have likely picked up in her interactions with other inmates in the different reactions. Thus instead of softening her, the system only served to harden her resolve.
The above theory then takes one back to the labeling theory. This particular theory outlines the fact that individuals are likely to stabilize in criminal roles that have been created for them (Champion, 2011). This leads to this individuals creating criminal characters for themselves and if not heard or understood are likely to be taken to prison which effectively eliminates them from other conventional roles. Initially, Ashley was incarcerated for bad behavior, through out her sentence; there is a clear defiance that might depict the fact that she is trying to continue to depict her ‘bad behavior’ role. There is a clear stigmatization on the part of her handlers for they stop interacting and evening dealing with her. This stigmatization continues for they watch as she commits suicide having been given the orders not to touch her until she draws her last breath. This type of treatment not only fires up her criminal behavior but also manages to drive her to her own death.
The final theory that was clearly visible in the behind the wall documentary was the social bond/social control theory (Buss, 2012). This theory suggests that there are particular social bonds that are formed that between an individual and the society around them that are likely to influence that individual either in a positive or negative way. It requires that an individual participates in the norms of the society they live in or risk being anti social. These norms include growing up in a family that loves and supports that individual as well as participating in activities such as making friends or attending school. Therefore it is important for these bonds with society to be strengthened. On the flip side, where these bonds are weakened, there is likelihood that that particular person will commit crime (Caplan et.al, 2011). According to the research of Travis Hirschi, insecure attachment is synonymous with a greater susceptibility to mental disorders in adult life. This was witnessed in Ashley’s case. There were a few problems that emanated from the fact that she was adopted and thus she felt out of place. Later, she was found to have been suffering from typical disorders that are more often associated with lack of social bonding suicide being the last disorder (Hoeve et.al, 2012). Reports also indicate that she had been suspended from school on multiple occasions because of her disruptive behavior. This meant that her participation in the social norm that is referred to as education and attendance of school was reduced. In most societies, school served as a forum where children get to interact with other as well as learn. The fact that there was less interaction meant that had ‘bad behavior was likely to increase. The situation was worsened with the fact that the bonds would not even be created in the correctional institutions because the staff sort to avoid her on one hand while on the other, she kept on being transferred from one institution to the other leaving her vulnerable and probably scared, thus the outbursts.
Conclusion
This particular documentary is based on a true story of a young girl whose wrong choices and lack of understanding from society ultimately paid a dear price. What is sad is the fact that criminology theories exist that that if applied would have helped save Ashley Smith. Indeed, instead of ignoring this child’s pleas for attention, society labeled as a nuisance. This ultimately sentenced her to a short life of misery that would have been avoided, had efforts been made to understand her criminal behavior. However, this comes as an important factor that outlines the importance of the application of criminology and the logic of trying to understand criminal behavior in society before sentencing these individuals.
Works Cited
Buss, D. M. (2012). The evolutionary psychology of crime. Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Criminology, 1(1), 90-98.
Caplan, J. M., Kennedy, L. W., & Miller, J. (2011). Risk terrain modeling: brokering criminological theory and GIS methods for crime forecasting. Justice Quarterly, 28(2), 360-381.
Champion, D. R. (2011). An Integral Model of Criminality: Aspects of Criminal Behavior. Insights to a Changing World Journal, (4).
Cullen, F. T., & Agnew, R. (2003). Criminological theory: Past to present : essential readings. Los Angeles (Calif.: Roxbury Park.
Cullen, F. T., Wright, J. P., & Blevins, K. R. (2006). Taking stock: The status of criminological theory. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers.
Hoeve, M., Stams, G. J. J., Van Der Put, C. E., Dubas, J. S., van der Laan, P. H., & Gerris, J. R. (2012). A meta-analysis of attachment to parents and delinquency. Journal of abnormal child psychology, 40(5), 771-785.
Lilly, J. R., Cullen, F. T., & Ball, R. A. (2010). Criminological theory: Context and consequences. Sage.
Rafter, N. H. (2008). The criminal brain: Understanding biological theories of crime. New York: New York University Press.
Siegel, L. J. (2013). Criminology: Theories, patterns, and typologies. Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth.
Vito, G. F., & Maahs, J. R. (2012). Criminology: Theory, research, and policy. Sudbury, Mass: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Williams, I. I. I. F. P., & McShane, M. D. (1998). Criminology Theory: Selected Classic Readings. Burlington: Elsevier Science.
