My Intro to Criminal Justice was taught by a cop in a big city. She told us that most cops would be criminals had they not become police officers because they have a “criminal mind” and they like the “thrill of the chase.” She also told us that she’s not likely to pull someone over unless she thinks she can arrest them. (my opinion of the cops in this area is pretty much: You stay out of their way and leave them alone, they leave you alone… and I’m a lead-footed driver)

Not sure what it does for your question, but it might give you something to spring some research off of?

Having read and studied the subject in some (tedious) depth, I’m somewhat of an agnostic on the question of criminology and the sociological theories attached thereto. I have never been able to find any verifiable psychometric analysis that would convince me that there is a definable methodology for the predictives of criminal behavior. There is, of course, a consequential difference between the violent criminal and the white collar felon. Is the difference in inclination or is it simply in consequence? Psychologically, is there any difference in the make up of the two? In the mind, is a criminal a criminal no matter what? Are they all the same? Are some crimes, the opportunistic variety, different from pre-meditated ones?

Not satisfied that there is a defensible, heuristically verifiable theory of criminal behavior, you will have to make up your own mind. Some heavy reading and research is in your future if you want to resolve that question.
I’m sure that whatever conclusion you arrive at will be at least as good as the so called “criminologist” who’s theories seem primarily promulgated on television.

Good luck with your project. You can teach me when you conclude.

One would be genetic, like a person is born with certain genes that make him too aggressive.
Environment, the family, upbringing, abuse, the neighborhood contribute to a person’s becoming a criminal.
That’s the old nature verses nurture debate.
I read a book year back that did a huge study on this, and it concluded that lenient and affection-less parenting encourage crime more than any other factor.
By the way, I found the book. You can go to the site below and look inside the book, like at the table of contents: