(c. Sarah Poling, NIU)

An example of the Krupke Assignment

The lyrics from the song "Sergeant Krupke" reflect several of the 
theories of crime/delinquency we have discussed this term. 
Selecting just a few of the stanzas from the song:

STANZA #1- 
This stanza can easily be tied to Travis Hirschi's social bonding theory. 
When focusing soley on the aspect of attachment, one could argue that the 
kids in question are delinquents because of poor parental role models 
which, in turn, lessened their levels of attachment. As Hirschi argues, 
children attached to parents are likely to become delinquent because their 
positive feelings promote acceptance of their parents values and beliefs. 
As the verse states, "our mothers are all junkies, our fathers are all 
drunks." Obviously, these delinquents were never exposed to a strong 
family bond which reinforced the morals and values which are seen as 
socially acceptable. If values were expressed, they were unlikely to be 
internalized because of negative feelings toward the parental figures that 
promoted them.

STANZA #3- 
This stanza is a direct reflection of the psychological social learning 
theories. The "narrator has simply learned his behavior by observing and 
imitating those in his immediate surroundings." He makes reference to his 
bastard father, his drunk grandpa, etc. As in the research done by Albert 
Bandura, children imitate the behavior of models if they perceive a benefit 
or reward from the behavior. So the chain begins: son sees Dad smoking 
pot, Dad seems very happy when he smokes pot, son tries the marijuana 
himself and the habit persists. Living in an area where delinquency is 
more common than not, it is likely that no positive role models existed to 
combat the actions reflected from the deviant parents. Without ever 
observing the parental figures being punished for abusing alcohol and 
drugs, there is no reason for the kids to believe they will be punished 
either.

STANZA #4- 
This stanza speaks to Robert Merton's theory of social strain. In the 
line, "It's not I'm anti-social, I'm only anti-work", it is clear that the 
individual has invoked a mode of adaptation which closely resembles 
retreatism. He mocks the social worker for suggesting a low status job 
which will portray him as a "schmuck" and then proclaims to be anti-work. 
He has clearly given up on the concept of a job and the possible benefits 
which might accompany it. "This boy don't need a job he needs a year in 
the pen." Thus, delinquency has resulted because the institutionalized 
means which one needs in order to meet goals have been blocked. Conformity 
is not even thought to be an option.


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Another stanza could be added:

	My parents were the worst, stealin' just to live 
	Tips on gettin' by was all my dad could give 
	My grandpa kind of knew the mayor 
	To keep me out he had to pay her 
	It's not my fault, it's all I know 
	The best in town I've had to show 
	We don't kill, we just cheat and thieve 
	In the slums you can not achieve 
	We gotta live, we need the pay 
	We ain't no criminal, it's the only way, it's the only way!

I think that this stanza is a reflection of Cloward and Ohlin's theory of 
delinquent subculture. A criminal subculture has emerged as a result of 
successful adult criminals who teach those below them the tricks of the 
trade and a cooperation between the offenders and people with political 
ties. The community lacks legitimate opportunities to "achieve," so 
illegitimate means are utilized instead. The offenders don't actually view 
themselves as criminals per se, they don't know any other way to survive 
with the conditions they live in. So they simply blame society for all of 
their misdoings and justify it by committing crimes which they perceive as 
non-serious.

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