Start:How useful are our approaches to Crime & Deviance?
Functionalism Interactionism Subcultural Theory Marxism New Criminology (AFSTOD) RANK and Justify On a scale of 1 10 (most useful) Functionalism Durkheim Crime is innevitable
Crime has positive functions Boundary Maintenance Change and Adaptation Warning Function Social bonds Safety Valve Merton Strain to Anomie Five Adaptations Albert Cohen Status Frustration Cloward and Ohlin Opportunity Structures Walter Miller Focal Concerns Labelling Theory Primary Deviance Secondary Deviance Master Status
Self-concept Self-fulfilling prophecy Deviant Career Deviant Subculture Deviance Amplification Braithwaite Reintegrative shaming Circoural Negotiation of Justice Jock Young Study of Hippies Stan Cohen Folk Devils and Moral Panics Angela Davis, former leader of the Black Panthers said:
The real criminals in this society are not all the people who populate the prisons across the state, but those people who have stolen the wealth of the world from the people. Angela Davis later became a prison abolitionist suggesting that prisons should be abolished, and alternative forms of punishment were needed Marxist Approaches Criminogenic Capitalism
Crime fuelled by inequality, consumerism and alienation Crime is rational response to K. Found in all classes. Official statistics over represent WC crime White Collar Crime Law is selectively enforced Ideological Functions of Crime and Law New Critical Criminology AFSTOD Policing the Crises (Stuart Hall) Policing the crisis Stuart Hall
Neo-Marxism on crime A fully social theory of deviance combining Marxism and labelling theory Ian Taylor, Paul Walton and Jock Young (1973) 1.The wider origins of the deviant act. 2.The immediate origins of the deviant act. 3.The act itself. 4.The immediate origins of social reaction. 5.The wider origins of social reaction. 6.The effects of labelling. Policing the crisis Stuart Hall 1.The 1970s was a period of considerable social crisis in Britain, the result of an international downturn in capitalist economies. 2.This turmoil was shown in a number of inner-city riots, conflict in Northern Ireland and a high level of strikes.The government was searching for a group that could be scapegoated, to draw attention onto them and away from the crisis. 3.Mugging which according to the police was more likely to be carried out by those from African-Caribbean backgrounds. 4.Media outrage at the extent of muggings, linked to racism amongst the Metropolitan police. 5.The need to find scapegoats and the ease with which young men from African-Caribbean's backgrounds could be blamed. 6. A sense of injustice amongst ethnic minorities against the police led to much hostility between them and further arrests. Taylor, Walton & Young 1973) Adopt a Neo-Marxist Approach.
The New Criminology Adopt a Neo-Marxist Approach. K. Is based on exploitation, class conflict and inequality. The state makes and enforces laws in the interests of the K. class. K. Should be replaced by socialism to rid society of crime Critical Criminology The New Criminology
Critical of traditional Marxist approach K. forces people to be criminal. Critical of other theories anomie, subculture, biology. TOO DETERMINISTIC. People have free will. New criminology combines Marxism and Interactionism. Crime is a meaningful action within an unequal society. A fully social theory of deviance vii. The relationship between these different aspects of deviance should be studied, so that they fuse together into a complete theory. Apply the seven stages in Taylor, Walton and Youngs Fully Social Theory of Deviance to the following case studies: MPs expenses. Baby P. London Riots. Gun Crime. Delhi Bus Sexual Assault. Apply the seven stages to your case study. Give a brief presentation on this to us all. New Criminology Stuart Hall Policing the Crises merges Marxism and Moral Panics. Video clip? Policing the Crisis, Hall et al argued that
Policing the Crisis, Hall et al argued that * the state manufactures a crime problem; * justifies strengthening its control over the population; * certain groups such as young black men, in particular are heavily criminalized so they can be heavily controlled. Policing the Crisis Stuart Hall (1978) Mugging
The societal reaction to mugging during the 1970s in Britain, was the result of a moral panic.Hall argued it must be looked at from the wider context of capitalism and the class system. Partly as a result of racism, the first generation of African-Caribbean migrants were the most disadvantaged members of the working class low paid jobs etc. Theories have suggested that 20 years after mass immigration, issues and tensions with the second generation can arise. The second generation children are British born, but often not treated as such.Yet many have no connection to their supposed home country. Black youth were less willing than their parents to accept this inequality (sometimes causing family rifts in the process). Some turned to petty crime - mugging became a survival strategy. Think about what mugging represents.It is literally the most basic and simple of crimes.What does it suggest? The Black Mugger Between August 1972 and August 1973 there were 60 mugging incidents Pictured Black youth creating mindless havoc in inner cities Mugging was not, however, new; neither was it growing at such a fast rate in fact it was less than half the rate in the 1960s Hall et al saw it as a moral panic The Wider Picture This crisis must be seen in context problems of British capitalism in the early 1970s 1945 full employment, rising living standards, growth of welfare services working class accepted the authority of the state 1970s rising unemployment, slowing of living standards, halt to the expansion of welfare services The stability of society was challenged by lawlessness with the focus being on the Black mugger: There was therefore a division of the working class on racial grounds; therefore weakening the challenge to the state State re-earned its power by stamping out the problem The Result? Police targeted this crime.
Random stop and searches increased. Unjustified questioned this approach, sometimes with verbal abuse or violence. Led to their arrest. The result was deviancy amplification. More arrests = more justification of police resources targeting young Black men = further headlines for the newspapers. Critique of Stuart Hall
Contradiction in his analysis.On the one hand, claims that black men and no more criminal than any other group but just victims of labelling.On the other hand,black crime rate was bound to rise due to inequalities of K. Evaluation of Neo-Marxist Approaches
Blended theory which uses both structural and action approaches. Fills in the gaps in labelling and traditional Marxist views. Gender blind focuses on male criminality. Romanticises working-class criminals as Robin Hoods who are fighting K. Do not take the effects of street crime seriously. Too idealistic in its solutions for crime. However, laid the foundations for other critical approaches Left Realism Quick Questions What is meant by criminogenic?
Identify 3 ways in which K. is criminogenic. How is crime and law ideological? What is the critique made by New Criminologists of Traditional Marxist views? Why has criminology been accused of being idealistic? How does Hall explain the phenomenon of the black mugger. Assessment Questions Examine some of the ways in which Marxists explain crime. (12 marks) Assess different Marxist views of the relationship between crime and social class. (21 marks) Jun 12 Assess the view that crime is functional, innevitable and normal. (21 marks) What is the role of law in a capitalist society, according to the Marxist approach. (12 marks) Realist Approaches Realist approaches reject that crime is simply a social construction.Instead they see it as a REAL problem that must be tackled.Realist theories have attempted to influence criminal policy. There has been a significant rise in crime (especially, street crime) There should be more concern about the fear of crime and victims. Realistic solutions are needed to solve crime. Two forms of realism have emerged.
Right Realism. Emerged in 1970s as part of the New Right. Favours tough / zero tolerance. Left Realism Developed as a reaction to Right Realism. Left-wing and social approaches. Right Realism Key ideas
The root cause of crime is biology and poor socialisation as people make a rational choice to commit crime. The solution is more formal social control such as harsher prison sentences, zero tolerance policies and more CCTV. Biology Wilson and Hernstein suggest some people are innately more strongly predisposed to commit crime than others. Especially those who have personality traits like aggression, risk taking and low impulse control. Charles Murray (1990) Argues most crime is committed by the underclass (unemployed).A recent upsurge in lone-parent families has led to poor socialisation and encouraged these people to be welfare dependant. Criticisms Doesnt explain white collar crime or domestic violence. Ignores issues like poverty. Scapegoats the underclass. Overstates the role of rationality. Crime displaced to other areas. Right Realism Rational Choice theory Ron Clarke (1980)suggests that people rationalise their choice to commit crime by weighing up the cost vs benefits.If the benefits (money) outweigh the costs (prison) then they will commit crime. Tackling crime Make crime less attractive to criminals by (formal control):- Zero tolerance harsh sentences broken window. Target hardening make it difficult to access private and public buildings. More surveillance CCTV. What is the New Right All about?
Right Realism What is the New Right All about? Emerged in the 1970s and 1980s with the political shift to the right Margaret Thatcher Ronald Reagan Right Realism These governments favoured rolling back the welfare state together with a strong commitment to law and order. They favoured a get tough stance on crime, with increased use of prison (and in the USA, the death penalty) and a short, sharp shock approach to dealing with young offenders. Watch the video Copy the following bullet points and try to address them in the course of the video. What do Right Realists believe causes crime? How do they try to combat crime? Who are the Right Realists? What problems are associated? (Criticisms) Right realism identifies the following four causes to influence crime:
People choose to commit crime by weighing up the pros and cons. Muscular Low Intelligent Males Muscular Low Intelligent Males 1. Bio-Social 4. Choice Causes of Crime 3. Opportunity 2. Cultural Greater opportunity to commit crime exists in some areas - SPF - Welfare Dependency Poor Schools Lack of Community Right Realism Causes of Crime
Biological Differences (James Q. Wilson and Richard J Hernnstein (1985)) Some people are biologically predisposed to crime.They are more aggressive, take more risks and may have poor decision making.Criminals have low intelligence which is biologically determined. 2. Socialisaton and the Underclass
Primary Socialisation teaches us self control, we internalise moral values of right and wrong.The best place for this is the nuclear family. Charles Murray (1990) The Underclass
Argues that an underclass of poorly socialised children grow up to cause deviant/criminal behaviour. Murray blames the growth of such groups in the West on overly generouswelfare benefits People have become too dependent on the nanny state Combined with family breakdown this has meant that:Lone parent families have increased.Males no longer take responsibility for providing for their families. Absent fathers mean boys lack appropriate role models. Murray sees this as a threat to the cohesion of society 3. Opportunities for crime
Wilson and Kelling:Broken Windows Theory (1982) If there is no formal or informal social control in an area then crime flourishes, Broken Windows If a building is left with a single broken window, more will be broken. Crime will flourish, because people will see the broken windows and realise that this is a lawless area where anti-social behaviour goes unchallenged.Mend the window ASAP. Broken Window Theory 4. Choice: Rational Choice Theory
Clarke (1980) sees the concept of rational choice to show that the decision to commit a crime or not is made on a calculation of the likely consequences. Crime occurs because REWARDS outweigh the COSTS. Therefore punishments need to be harsher to deter crime. Routine Activities Theory (RAT)
(Cohen & Felson 1979) 1) A suitable target is available & attractive (object or person) 2) There is the lack of a suitable guardian to prevent the crime from happening (e.g., Police, homeowner) 3)A likely and motivated offender is present. Right Realism Tackling Crime
Not fruitful to tackle the causes of crime better to focus on the consequences of crime control, containment, punishment. Right Realism Tackling Crime.
Reducing the underclass (cutting benefits) Reducing the opportunities for crime (target hardening, situational crime prevention) Reducing the rewards of crime (harsher punishments) Zero tolerance (treating even minor crimes with a greater magnitude) Zero Tolerance Policing
In line with the mend things straight away mentality. This approach means that the Police crack down hard on any areas of deviance even when seemingly trivial. Using the old saying give em an inch..and theyll take a mile. New York City in the 1990s was seen as a good example of this in operation. Designing-out crime
Crime prevention strategy Reshaping an environment to reduce opportunities for crime of deviant behaviour Felson (1998) uses the example of New Yorks Port Authority bus terminal It was poorly designed and feature many opportunities for crime. Sixty-three interventions were made at the terminal, at about the same time.
The toilets were a target for luggage thieves, drug users/dealers, rough sleepers and those seeking homosexual liaisons Other initiatives in New York...
Subway graffiti crackdown: In the early 90s, an initiative to eradicated the subway system of graffiti was launched. Trains were reconditioned, painted and cleaned. If graffiti occurred, the train was taken out of service and cleaned immediately. Broken windows theory applied. As such the crime, and other subway crimes have largely disappeared. People know that such anti-social behaviour will not go unnoticed or unchallenged. Ante-rooms (mini-hallways) between the bus terminal and bathrooms also were hubs for muggings, drug deals etc Felson got rid of these. Lighting was changed, made brighter. Other situational crime prevention techniques... Think about designing out crime...
In a clothes store Supermarket School Evaluation of Right Realism
Ignores wider structural causes such as poverty. Overstates offender rationality (violent crime). Deterministic (Biology) Focuses too much on street crime and ignores white collar crime. Zero Tolerance Police often discriminate against Ethnic Minority groups. Fails to tackle underlying causes of crime. Also... What do you think about Project Prevention?
What do you think about Project Prevention? Right Realism: Solutions to Crime
CCTV More Police officers on the streets Harsher punishments Zero tolerance:3 strikes and out in the US Evaluation of Right Realism
The New Right has a common sense like appeal but many see its recommendations as simplistic and unworkable. It refers to a Golden Age which never really existed. Stronger punishments lead to decreases in some crimes but increases in others e.g. in UK property crime has declined at the expense of violence against the person. Harsher punishments mean MORE prison sentences and LONGER sentences.This has lead to FULLER prisons.Is prison effective?Recidivism rates are very high. Key Terms Broken Windows Theory Rational Choice Theory
Routine Activities Theory Situational crime prevention Underclass Zero tolerance Target hardening Left Realism Key ideas The root cause of crime is Relative deprivation, marginalisation and exclusion in modern society. The solution is more informal social control such as better housing, more job opportunities and more democratic policing. The offenders Young and Lea argue that most crime is committed by W/C against the W/C.This is due to discontent caused by relative deprivation (judging your status by that of others) and individualism (being self-interested). Marginalisation Marginalised groups are those who lack clear goals or representation.Young W/C are powerless and unrepresented which leads to violence and rioting. Left Realism Criticisms Doesnt explain white collar crime or domestic violence. Minimum wage and housing conditions have never been better. M/C could be relatively deprived and individualistic, yet dont commit as much crime. Impossible to get rid of relative deprivation. Modern society and exclusion A lack of jobs for the W/C and being out priced of the property market has left many socially excluded.Jock young says we live in a bulimic society where we are exposed to a large variety of consumer products which the W/C cannot purchase. Tackling crime Make things better for people by (informal social control): Giving them housing conditions to be proud of. Better job opportunities. A better relationship between police and public,being more democratic will help the flow of information. Its all about meeeeeeee! Criticisms of New/Radical Criminology
What about me!?!? Criticisms of New/Radical Criminology
What about me!?!? Robin Hood Ignores victims Gender-blind AFSTOD I cant make my mind up!?!?!?! Left Realism: A response to Marxism
We need practical strategies for reducing crime in the here and now, rather than waiting for a revolution and a classless socialist utopia to abolish crime. Left realists, like Marxist, agree that structural reasons like poverty and feelings of injustice cause crime. Response to the growing influence of Right Realism Taking crime seriously
Left realists recognise that there has been a real increase in crime rates. The best way to reduce crime is to reduce the causes of crime. Disadvantaged groups have the greatest fear of crime and it has the greatest effect on their lives. How does this differ from Right Realists? Taking crime seriously
Crime is a real problem which affects disadvantaged groups which has not been taken seriously by other sociologists. There has been a real increase in crime since 1950s especially working class crime. Sociology has a crises in explanation and fails to fully consider why? BCS suggests reported crime is the tip of the iceberg and masks the true levels of crime. Disadvantaged groups greater risk of becoming victims. Through victim surveys, Left Realists have identified the types of crime that people worry about most: Why are these crimes worried about most? What crimes do people not worry about, or worry about a lot less and why? Who is most likely to be a victim of these crimes? Why would these crimes worry them? Who is most likely to fear crime and be a victim of it?
The poor and deprived Ethnic minority groups Those living in inner-city areas Left Realists recognise that most people dont care much about white-collar or corporate crime, because it has little impact on their lives Causes of Crime Lea and Young (1984)
Relative Deprivation Subculture Marginalisation What do these mean? Where have you come across this concept before
Relative Deprivation How deprived one feels in relation to others or compared with own expectations. Paradox - the more prosperous a society the higher the crime rates. Individualism fuels this. the lethal combination is relative deprivation and individualism Young (1999) Causes crime by encouraging the pursuit of self interest at the expense of others. Where have you come across this concept before Who does this sound like?
Subculture Groups collective response to the problem of relative deprivation. Different groups have different responses to this problem, e.g. crime to close the deprivation gap, religion theodicy of dispriviledge. Criminal subcultures still subscribe to values and goals of mainstream society but do not have the means to achieve them. Who does this sound like? What would be a conventional means of expressing frustrations
Marginalisation Powerless groups who lack goals and organisation have no other means of expressing their frustration and resentment apart from criminal acts such as violence and rioting. What would be a conventional means of expressing frustrations Jock Young and Late modernity (2002)
Deindustrialisation increased UE. Destabilised families and communities Relative Deprivation Downwards Resentment Upwards and Downwards Crime is more widespread Less public consensus on what is right and wrong Informal controls disintegrate Public less tolerant and demand harsh punishments High crime society with a low tolerance for crime. Jock Young and Late modernity (2002)
Deindustrialisation increased UE. Destabilised families and communities Relative Deprivation Downwards Resentment Upwards and Downwards Crime is more widespread Less public consensus on what is right and wrong Informal controls disintegrate Public less tolerant and demand harsh punishments High crime society with a low tolerance for crime. Read page 97. Task: What do these images represent?
In pairs/small groups, have a look at the image and try to determine the features of Jock Youngs theory of late modernity, exclusion and crime. Jock Young and Late Modern societywhy is it criminogenic?
Who lives next door? Dunno Whose idea is this similar to?
Young uses this idea of inclusion and exclusion to describe a bulimic society A society in which we take in the images of what we could have... and then forces us to vomit envy and frustration when we cannot achieve these dreams (because we dont have the money or status) Whose idea is this similar to? Ever felt deprived? Jock Young sees a contrast between these 2 factors as being responsible for increasing feelings of relative deprivation: Cultural inclusion Refers to the way in which we all have access to all that is on offer today.The media, adverts, internet etc all ensure that we all can see what is available Economic exclusion Refers to the fact that although we can all view these things we cant all afford them.This can lead to envy and frustration. But this also goes in the other direction:
Many resent the high bonuses of bankers, the wages of footballers, etc But this also goes in the other direction: Many MC people resent the scroungers benefit fraudsters living off welfare while they work hard to maintain a living.It makes them think whats the point? Likewise, in our celebrity obsessed culture we are fed images and stories of drug and booze addled celebrities, hounded by paparazzi, who yearn for a normal life like everyone else.Maybe deviance is their escape/way of coping? Activity: Left Realism Which perspectives would agree?
Relative Deprivation. Economic change and de-industrialisation. Importance of values. Lack of consensus on right and wrong. Stereotyping of underclass. Lack of political voice. Some groups feel marginalised. Increased individualism. Expression of frustration through criminal behaviour. Exclusion from economic activity. Government policies increase marginalisation. Crime is a real problem for many. Tackling Crime Left Realism
Policing and Control Tackle Inequalities Government Policy Policing and Control Police depend on public to report and help solve crimes. Public lose confidence in the Police information dries up Military Policing methods are used (SUS) further alienates community. Policing and control Policing should be accountable to local communities and deal with local concerns. Routine beat patrols and SUS are ineffective. Over-police minor drug offences and under-police racist attacks. Improve relationship with locals and focus on what worries them. Pre-emptive Deterrence
The organisation of communities in an attempt to pre-empt crime is of the utmost importance. Community policing; neighbourhood watch; CCTV; designing-out crime. Tackling Structural Causes
Causes of Crime = Inequality of opportunity, unfairness of rewards Solution = Reduce inequality and discrimination. Provide decent jobs, houses an community facilities. Tolerant of diversity. Demarginalisation "Realists would argue for alternatives to prison", they would advocate "measures such as community service orders, victim restitution schemes, and widespread release from prison" which would stop "the severance of the moral bond with the community The institutions that are involved in controlling crime and criminals must epitomise justice. The Minimal Use of Prison
"Prisons should only be used in those circumstances where there is extreme danger to the community... Life inside should be as free and as 'normal' as possible. Such a demand is not humanitarian idealism - it is based on the simple fact that the result of prison experience is to produce pitiful inadequates or hardened criminals. Influence Government Policy
However, Jock Young thinks they have not gone far enough. The New Labour policies have focused more on tackling crime rather than the root causes of crime. Left realists have influenced New Labour Policies. Tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime. Examples: Policing of hate crimes, sexual assaults and domestic violence. ASBOs to protect vulnerable groups. New Deal for Unemployed. Evaluation of Left Realism
Draws attention to the problem of street crime. Accepts authorities definition of crime.Fails to explain how the powerful commit crimes on the poor. Rely on quantitative data cannot explain offenders motives. (Interactionists) Not everyone who suffers from relative deprivation becomes a criminal. Focus on inner-city makes crime appear a bigger problem than it is. Kinsey (1986) The police need to improve clear-up rates
What does clear-up rates refer to? Crimes solved and offenders caught by Police Why might this be important for a community? Deter criminals in the future Improve community relations and confidence in the Police Encourage co-operation with the Police Kinsey suggests more community policing and time spent investigating crimes. Which is LEFT, which is RIGHT?
More ethnic minority police officers Biological factors play a part in criminality Materialistic messages from the media has increased relative deprivation Charles Murray Jock Young Had more influence over policy under New Labour Economic insecurity have ked to feelings of relative deprivation Conservative Rational Choice Theory CCTV Zero Tolerance Policing (more officers too) Inadequate socialisation Community service and inclusion Broken Windows New York city subway trains Poverty and Deprivation are factors Reform socialist Left Realism and Letters...
Which M is used to describe the idea that people turn to crime because they feel politically and economically excluded. Which B is used to describe a society that is culturally included, but economically excluded? Which C describes a concern for Kinsey and other left realists, because people dont see justice being served? Which R describes the theory that people commit crime because they feel a sense of injustice about what they dont have compared to others around them who may not put in the same effort. This kind of society, beginning with L, makes crime inevitable, since their is less consensus on what is right and wrong. Realism Assessment Questions
Assess the value of the right realist approach to crime and deviance. (21) Assess the value of the left realist approach to crime and deviance. (21)