Criminological Perspectives and Theory

Introduction:

Criminological perspectives and theory's can be used to assess any crime, the case of the ‘backpack murders’ is no different. Ivan Milat is the person responsible for these crimes, with seven murders under his name, he is known as one of Australia's most notorious serial killers. There are criminological theories that can be used to analyse and help gain a sense of understanding about these cases. The theories that this essay will use are classical theory, biological positivism and strain theory. This essay will use these theories to develop an understanding of Milat’s murders and try to draw a conclusion based on these theories to explain why Milat did what he did.

Background of the Milat case:

Ivan Milat grew up in a house of 16, 2 parents and 14 children. Ivan had a reputation for lawlessness, from the age of 17 he was a constant for the local police for, break and enter, car theft and armed robberies(Biography.com Editors. 2016, see also R 2017). In 1971 he was trailed for the abduction and rape of two female hitchhikers, but charges were dropped due to lack of evidence(Biography.com Editors. 2016, see also Rao 2017, see also Rambles 2014). In 1992 the bodies of two missing British backpackers had been discovered in the Belangalo state forest, but the odd part of this case is the differences in how they were killed, one woman being stabbed repeatedly and the other was stabbed repeatedly and then had been shot in the head 10 times, the strap wounds near the spine were the only similarities (Biography.com Editors. 2016, see also Rao 2017, see also Rambles 2014). Little progress was made over the following weeks on this case(Biography.com Editors. 2016, see also Rao 2017, see also Rambles 2014). In 1993 another two bodies were found, with spinal injuries similar to that of the British backpackers found earlier. After an extensive search of the Belangalo state forest another body was found with the now familiar spinal injury(Biography.com Editors. 2016, see also Rao 2017, see also Rambles 2014). After a final search and another two victims found with the same spinal injury, there was no doubt that this was the work of a serial killer(Biography.com Editors. 2016, see also Rao 2017, see also Rambles 2014). Milat was arrested in 1995 and protested his innocence, the jury found him guilty of all 7 murders and is serving 7 consecutive life sentences in the maximum security gaol in Goulburn(Biography.com Editors. 2016, see also Rao 2017, see also Rambles 2014).

Classical theory:

The Ivan Milat case can be explained through the use of classical theory. Classical theory is understood as the concept of free will and equality, that humans are self serving and make individual choices in what they do (White et.al, 2012, see also, White, Peronne, 2015). The concept that every person has equal rights and