Angela Simpson Case: Rational Choice and Life Sentence Analysis
Case Summary
In 2009, Angela Simpson committed first-degree murder, for which she was sentenced to life in prison plus 14 years. The main factors that determined the degree of punishment were the severity of the crime, as well as the torture to which the victim was subjected before being killed. Moreover, Simpson admitted her guilt, and from the interview, it can be seen that even though she considers her act worthy of the death penalty, she consciously committed this crime (Swagny6000, 2012). To better understand the motives that guided her, one might evaluate her actions through the prism of rational choice theory.
Applying Rational Choice Theory to the Case
Rational choice theory is one of the approaches in criminology that determines criminal activity as a person’s conscious choice. According to Siegel (2020), an individual weighs the risks and rewards before committing a crime. If a person believes that the potential benefit of a crime outweighs the criminal liability associated with it, they are more likely to break the law (Siegel, 2020). In an interview, Simpson states that she is confident that her victim was a “snitch” who was informing on the righteous, and in her personal beliefs, such people should not be in society (swagny6000, 2012). Angela realizes the seriousness of her crime, arguing that it deserves the death penalty from the perspective of religion and taking the life of another person. It implies that the crime was committed based on an analysis of available data on the victim’s behavior and the offender’s personal value system.
Sentence Factors
The sentence passed on Angela Simpson is based on several factors. First, the degree of punishment must correspond to the severity of the crime and the offender’s motives (Siegel, 2020). Simpson committed the crime while conscious and admitted her guilt, so the severity of the murder she committed requires life imprisonment. Moreover, the additional 14-year sentence is due to additional circumstances, such as the torture of the victim for three days before the murder, the social status of the victim, and attempts to conceal the crime.
This sentence has a general deterrence function for society. This concept implies that long-term imprisonment for violent crimes can prevent potential offenders from committing them (Siegel, 2020). The Simpson case impacted society by potentially preventing crimes motivated by the perpetrator’s personal beliefs and values, thereby creating risks associated with their commission that outweighed the potential benefits.
References
Siegel, L. (2020). Criminology: Theories, patterns, and typologies, V2 (13th ed.). Cengage Learning.
swagny6000. (2012). Cold blooded woman Angela Simpson interview after getting life in prison!. YouTube.
