Sykes and Matza base their neutralization theory on a variety of observations about criminals.Among these observations is that:

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Sykes and Matza observe that criminals sometimes voice guilt over their illegal acts, which suggests that the individuals do recognize the wrongness of their actions. This observation serves as a basis for their neutralization theory, which describes the ways in which criminals use techniques of neutralization to temporarily suspend their values and beliefs in order to commit crimes. Option A is incorrect because plea bargaining does not necessarily reflect a desire to dispel responsibility; it is often an attempt to reduce punishment. Option B is incorrect because criminals may have a variety of attitudes towards their victims, including seeing them as more or less deserving targets. Option D is incorrect because although criminals may respect the street knowledge of their peers, this is not a central observation on which the neutralization theory is based.

Sykes and Matza Base Their Neutralization Theory on a Variety