Notes

A criminological theory that relates to these crimes would be Differential Association which is one of Sutherland’s theories. The key factors for this theory is that criminal behavior is learned, it is also learned through interaction with other people. The learning of criminal behavior occurs with intimate groups. They learn the techniques, motives, drives and rationalization to commit these crimes. This process is the same to them as any other type of learning. This theory applies very well with Karla Homolka. She was only 17 when she met Paul Bernardo. Even before the two met Paul was already committing crimes like rape. Karla entered the relationship and quickly learned and conducted in criminal behavior. The two ended up getting married which shows how close they were. Paul could have easily showed Karla the ways in which he conducted his crimes. The first time Paul raped a woman with Karla, she didn’t participate but watched the whole thing happen in front of her. This could be her learning the techniques and drives to commit such awful crimes. The next time Paul wanted to commit another crime, Karla came along with him. This shows that she learned this criminal behavior quite quickly after being intimate with Paul. These acts seemed to become easier for the two of them as they started to not only rape victims but also murder them. The best way for this theory to be solved would to try and avoid people like this from being together, keeping personalities like this separate from one another because in the end they only persuade and egg on the other. The theory suggests that if the one who doesn’t have that criminal behavior yet never ends up with the criminal, he or she would not turn down that path. Thus meaning that if Karla never met with Paul, she would never had turned down the path of crime. Since her release from prison and being away from Paul, Karla has not been involved in crime, but would she if she got back in touch with another person like Paul.