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This paper is related to the abstract assignment you wrote for me concerning the rape case involving two teenage boys.
below is a word document attachment of the requirement for the paper. I also attach the abstract paper that you wrote concerning this crime.
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Running head: SOCIAL SCIENCE ASSIGNMENT
Social Science Assignment
Name
Institution
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SOCIAL SCIENCE ASSIGNMENT
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Social Science Assignment
Abstract
The Steubenville High School rape case is the criminal case of focus in which two male
peers raped a female high school student in 2012 after having been incapacitated by alcohol. The
significant features of crime are that it was an illegal act, it caused both physical and
psychological harm to the victim and that the perpetrators were punished by being jailed for one
and 2-year terms based on their involvement in the crime. The least plausible theory to explain
the case is the labeling theory which states that people will continue committing crimes after
they have been labeled as criminals from their first criminal acts. Its key feature is that the
individuals must have been convicted of criminal acts in the past which influences them to
commit subsequent acts. The theory is not appropriate in this case since the perpetrators did not
have a criminal label against them at the time of committing the act (Turanovic & Pratt, 2014).
The most persuasive approach is the social learning theory which states that people tend to
commit crime after being motivated by their peers and gaining skills from their close associates
on how to commit crimes. The key feature of the theory is that there must be an influence of
peers as well as the learning process from the environment on how to commit the crime. This
theory is the most persuasive since the crime was a group act meaning that the perpetrators
motivated and learned from each other on committing the crime.
I intend to focus on the causes of the crime to determine the theory that is either most or
least persuasive in the case. I, however, have no intentions of regarding any evidence since all
evidence will help in authenticating the arguments concerning the best theory to explain the case.
Other evidence that can be used to support the theory is a family history of rape cases in the
perpetrators' lineage as well whom they interact with after school. The evidence will help
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determine whether their criminal act is out of social influence. The evidence is essential in policy
formulation since they will inform the policymakers on strategies that can use to bring sanity in
society. Also, the policymakers will use the evidence in guiding social institutions such as
schools, churches, and families on strategies they should adopt in enhancing morality among
their children.
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Introduction
Rape has been one of the debatable crime topics in the recent past. Rape usually termed
as a non-consensual sexual association which is done by the use of physical force, threat, or other
pressure. The common law determines rape as an unnecessary activity where a male force a
female to conduct a sexual activity without their consent. Lack of consent can happen in a
situation where the perpetrator has the authority over the victim or the offender used force that
intimidates the victim. According to Chaffin, Chenoweth & Letourneau (2016), the rape laws
would convict an offender with rape if any count of nonconsensual penetration took place. The
most frequent type of rape is forcible rape. This type of rape happens when the offenders use
violence or threat to make the victim agree to have coitus. Other forms of rape accepted in some
states are like blackmailing and duress. In most states in the United States, rape is termed as the
first-degree form of sexual assault where its penalties are severe. Statutory rape or defilement is
another form of rape where it does not necessarily require an offender to use force to convince
the victim to perform sexual intercourse. This type of rape usually happens between the offender
and the minor. Minor is a person who is below the age of consent by law, even if they are
biologically sexual mature. Minors below the age of consent are denied legal permission to
having sex. This means that having sex with a minor violates of statutory rape laws even if there
was an agreement (Turanovic & Pratt, 2014). Statutory laws vary from place to place due to
different ages of consent in different states. The universal penalty of rape is a lengthy prison
sentence while in some countries; one may have to register as a sex lawbreaker for life. The
society has a different perspective concerning the crime of rape and its perpetrators. Different
criminology theories can elaborate on why rape is a common crime and why the perpetrators are
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fond of committing it despite having harsh penalties. Good examples of such approaches are
labeling and social learning theory.
Overview of the Crime
Steubenville rape case is one of the controversial rape cases that put the rape culture at
the heart of the national conversation. The incidence happened at the night of 11th August the
year 2012 in Steubenville, Ohio. Her peers raped a young girl aged 16 years old during the night
of partying. The offender identified as Ma'lik Richmond and Trent Mays were charged with
counts of rape and kidnapping where they were later proven guilty. According to the trial
statements, the victim, together with offenders, left the party intoxicated at midnight on August
11(Pennington & Birthisel, 2016). They headed to another party, but the victim was too
intoxicated to support herself. After twenty minutes, they left the second party and headed to one
of the witness homes. At the back seat of their car, May remove victim’s shirt, and digitally
penetrated her private parts and exposed her breast as his peers filmed him. He also tried oral
rape by forcing his penis to the mouth of the girl. After May’s incidence, Richmond also
penetrated the victim's private parts and filmed too.
The case gained national prominence after being covered by the New York Times.
Several people publicized the incidence of social media such as twitter, facebook, youtube, and
Instagram (Armstrong, H...