2B: Definitons, Measurements + Perceptions of Crime Flashcards
Functionalists
Functionalists share the views of positivists and tend to accept crime statistics uncritically
The functionalist inspired sub cultural theory
Started with the view that crime is a young working class male phenomenon
Left realist
Left realists are almost unique in accepting that official statistics have some value and should not be rejected out of hand
Which view do left realists accept
They accept the statistical view that typical offenders are young male working class and disproportionately black
Marxists views on statistics
Marxists recognise the systematic bias in favour of the powerful in the application of the law they believe that law making and enforcement serve only the interests of the ruling class
What is a general rule for Marxists
As a general rule the higher people are in the social system the less likely they are to be arrested, changed, prosecuted and found guilty
What do Marxists believe that crime is
Marxists believe that crime is a social phenomenon created by the upper classes to keep the lower classes in check. They also believe the ability to prevent the passing of any legislation which could threaten their interests
Marxists
Stress the significant ‘dark side’ of white - collar and corporate crime that is largely invisible and absent from crime statistics
How does the interpretive approach see crime
The interpretive approach sees crime statistics as largely useless and a distortion reality
What do interpretivists agrue statistics are
They argue statistics are a social construction and tell us nothing about the real level of crime only who complied them and how
What is the Labelling theory interested in
Labelling theory is more interested in questions such as why some acts are viewed as more deviant than others and why some groups become labelled deviant
Feminist view on statistics
Feminists argue that crime statistics underplay the extent of females as victims :personal attack : domestic violence etc
What has been happening about domestics until recently
Until recently the police viewed attacks in the home as ‘domestics’ and were reluctant to get involved ‘what went in behind closed doors’
Why are many female victims physical and sexual attacks reluctant to report offences
- unemployed
- have ever used class A drugs
What is most likely to lead to underreporting
Where people perceive an act to not actually constitute a crime this is most likely to lead to underreporting
What percentage of people in England and wales think crime has gone up in the past few years
78% of people in England and wales think that crime has gone up in the past few years according to the latest survey but the data on actual crime shows the exact opposite
What effect has security improvement had on crime
There is string research evidence to support that there have been a decrease in burglary, car crime and domestic violence and other violence against women due to security improvement.
Examples of security improvement
Stringer doorframes, double glazed sundowns and security fittings
What happened when teenagers could no longer commit ‘debut crimes’
When teenagers could no longer commit these easy debut crimes they did not progress to longer criminal careers
How are cyber crimes different
The skill set resources and rewards for cybercrime are very different. And reflects new crime opportunities facilitated by the internet
How have concern about crime changes from 2016-2019
Concern about crime went from a low in 2016 (during Brexit) quadrupled by 2019 ans plummeted during the pandemic but the concerns have risen again in the past year
Poor information
People who watch TV and read lots of newspapers will be exposed to a diet of crime stories which doesn’t reflect official statistics
What have most recent terrorist attacks in the uk been and does this show restrictions are effective
Most recent terrorist attacks in the uk have featured knives but there is little discussion of how this indicates that measures to restrict guns and bomb making resources are effective
Examples of political rhetoric skewing perceptions
- conservatives were for an advert portraying London as crime capital of the world
- labour has also made references to high levels of crime under the govt
Why may some concerns be justified
Crime is more likely to recur against the same people at the same places
What is the general perception of crime in Scotland
Crime has filled in the last 15 years as well as people generally feeling safer in their environments though people have less confidence in the police
What percentage of adults believed were excellent or good in Scotland
49% of adults believed the police in their area were doing an ‘excellent’ or good Job in 2021/2022 which is a decrease of 61% 2012/18 and 65% (2019/2020)
What percentage of people in Scotland believed crime decreased
Only 8% of people thought crime decreased
What did the CSEW consistently show
The survey still consistently shown that most people perceive that crime across the country as a whole has still been rising although the proportion of people reporting this has decreased in recent years
Which question was introduced in April 2008 in the crime survey for England and wales
A question was introduced in the CSEW to ask respondents how likely they think they are to be a victim of crime in the next 12 months
How many people said they were likely to be a victim of crime in the next year
In the year ending march 2009 1 in 4 people (26.2%) said they thought they were very or fairly likely to be a victim of crime in the next year since then there has been a gradual but significant decline to around 1 in 5 people (19.1%) on the year ending march 2016
What is the decline in people believing they are likely to be a victim of crime because of
This decline is the perceived likelihood of being a victim of crime corresponds to the overall trend in CSEW crime prevalence which significantly decrease from 23.3% in the year ending march 2009 to 15.2% in the year ending march 2016
2022 crime perception of public
Crime in America is decreasing but according to statistics 78.9% believed it had increased only 18% believed it has decreased
