3.2 Left Realists On Crime Flashcards
They focus on the reality of crime and which crime in particular?
Street crime as it is the biggest concern for the working class
(Victims) the publics fear of crime is what?
Rational and justified
(Victims) what are the best methods to study crime according to left realists?
Victim surveys
(Victims) what do victims surveys do?
Give victims a voice so they can share experiences
(Victims) do left realists accept the British crime survey?
Yes but they say it underestimates the risks faced by low income groups in inner city areas
(Victims) the Islington crime survey found what percentage of the working class feared burglary?
56%
(Victims) Islington crime survey - what percent were victims of street robbery?
48%
(Victims) Islington crime survey - what proportion of women feared going out after dark?
1/3
(Victims) why is the working classes fear of crime reasonable?
They are more likely to be victims and crime has a bigger impact on them
(Offenders) there has been a growth in working class offenders but who are the victims?
The working class
(Offenders) what is relative deprivation?
People see themselves as deprived relative to others event those of the same class
(Offenders) what has happened to relative deprivation since the 1970s?
Increased particularly for lower classes and ethnic minorities
(Offenders) relative deprivation causes discontent expressed through what?
Crime
(Offenders) individualism has led to a me first attitude undermining what?
Communities and families
(Offenders) individualism weakens what?
Values and social control leading to antisocial behaviour
E.g. Neighbours burgling neighbours
(Late modern society and crime) changes in society have led to disintegration of communities and increase in what?
Relative deprivation and crime
(Late modern society and crime) how does the media contribute to crime?
Supporting upper class views promoting wealth and materialism
(Late modern society and crime) the rapid decline in manual jobs is affecting who?
Lower working class men and Afro-Caribbeans
(Late modern society and crime) those at the bottom of the class system are excluded from what?
Jobs - labour market
Housing - middle class move out leaving them in deprived areas
Physically - in prison
(Dealing with crime) low police clear up rates has what effect?
Decreased confidence making people reluctant to help the police
(Dealing with crime) in response to the lack of help, police turn to military policing what is this?
Stop and searching
(Dealing with crime) why did the Brixton riots occur?
Police targeting and military policing
(Dealing with crime) a more accountable police force will make them what?
More trusted and communities will become involved in informal social control
(Dealing with crime) multiagency intervention is called for what is this?
Education, family, Police and social services all being involved
(Dealing with crime) young says we can create a less criminogenic society by increasing what?
Job opportunity
Community facilities
Standards of housing
Criticisms - Marxists would say left realists overemphasise street crime ignoring what?
Corporate crime and its importance
Criticisms - left realists also trust in self report methods what are the issues of this?
Validity issues
Strengths - left realists look at the interaction between what?
Both formal and informal mechanisms of social control
Strengths - left realists offer practical solutions such as what?
Policing strategies
Strengths - left realists don’t do what?
victimise or blame the police or offender
Strengths - left realists don’t trust the stats rather they consider who?
The victims of crime
