© Ane Venter
Study Unit 2
Classical Perspective (Choice)
1|Page
, © Ane Venter
Case Study:
The Case of Baby Jordan Leigh Norton
Question: Indicate how choice theories and opportunity theories assist in explaining the planning and execution
of this crime.
Rational Choice Theories Opportunity Theories
Adopts a utilitarian belief that humans are Suggests that when an individual wants to
reasoning actors who weigh means and ends, commit a crime, they look for an opportunity
costs and benefits, to make a rational choice. or a practical target.
EVIDENCE FROM THE CASE STUDY
→ Dina wanted to “get rid of” baby
Jordan, because she felt that baby
Jordan interfered in her relationship
and caused strain. → Dina looked for an opportunity to have
This shows that she weighed baby Jordan killed by calling the Norton
her benefits when planning the household to find out when they would
murder. be home, as well as who would be
→ Dina went to a taxi rank to look for home at the time to “receive a
someone she could hire to kill baby package”.
Jordan. → Dina created an opportunity for the
→ Dina provided the hired killers with the killers to enter the household, by
address where baby Jordan would be. supplying them with a waybill. This
→ Dina gave the hired killers with a ensured that a member of the Norton
telephone book to deliver during their household had to interact with one of
first attempt at entering the Norton the killers disguised as a delivery man.
household. → It can be argued that the killers
→ Dina called the Norton household themselves were opportunistic –
ahead of time to find out if someone murder was disguised as a robbery,
would be home to receive a “package” and they took a safe and a firearm
– addressed to Jordan’s grandfather. form the Norton household after killing
→ Dina falsified a waybill for someone in baby Jordan.
the Norton household to sigh (which
helped the hired men to gain access to
the household).
2|Page
Study Unit 2
Classical Perspective (Choice)
1|Page
, © Ane Venter
Case Study:
The Case of Baby Jordan Leigh Norton
Question: Indicate how choice theories and opportunity theories assist in explaining the planning and execution
of this crime.
Rational Choice Theories Opportunity Theories
Adopts a utilitarian belief that humans are Suggests that when an individual wants to
reasoning actors who weigh means and ends, commit a crime, they look for an opportunity
costs and benefits, to make a rational choice. or a practical target.
EVIDENCE FROM THE CASE STUDY
→ Dina wanted to “get rid of” baby
Jordan, because she felt that baby
Jordan interfered in her relationship
and caused strain. → Dina looked for an opportunity to have
This shows that she weighed baby Jordan killed by calling the Norton
her benefits when planning the household to find out when they would
murder. be home, as well as who would be
→ Dina went to a taxi rank to look for home at the time to “receive a
someone she could hire to kill baby package”.
Jordan. → Dina created an opportunity for the
→ Dina provided the hired killers with the killers to enter the household, by
address where baby Jordan would be. supplying them with a waybill. This
→ Dina gave the hired killers with a ensured that a member of the Norton
telephone book to deliver during their household had to interact with one of
first attempt at entering the Norton the killers disguised as a delivery man.
household. → It can be argued that the killers
→ Dina called the Norton household themselves were opportunistic –
ahead of time to find out if someone murder was disguised as a robbery,
would be home to receive a “package” and they took a safe and a firearm
– addressed to Jordan’s grandfather. form the Norton household after killing
→ Dina falsified a waybill for someone in baby Jordan.
the Norton household to sigh (which
helped the hired men to gain access to
the household).
2|Page
