3.2 Left Realists On Crime

Question 1

They focus on the reality of crime and which crime in particular?

Answer 1

Street crime as it is the biggest concern for the working class

Question 2

(Victims) the publics fear of crime is what?

Answer 2

Rational and justified

Question 3

(Victims) what are the best methods to study crime according to left realists?

Answer 3

Victim surveys

Question 4

(Victims) what do victims surveys do?

Answer 4

Give victims a voice so they can share experiences

Question 5

(Victims) do left realists accept the British crime survey?

Answer 5

Yes but they say it underestimates the risks faced by low income groups in inner city areas

Question 6

(Victims) the Islington crime survey found what percentage of the working class feared burglary?

Answer 6

56%

Question 7

(Victims) Islington crime survey - what percent were victims of street robbery?

Answer 7

48%

Question 8

(Victims) Islington crime survey - what proportion of women feared going out after dark?

Answer 8

1/3

Question 9

(Victims) why is the working classes fear of crime reasonable?

Answer 9

They are more likely to be victims and crime has a bigger impact on them

Question 10

(Offenders) there has been a growth in working class offenders but who are the victims?

Answer 10

The working class

Question 11

(Offenders) what is relative deprivation?

Answer 11

People see themselves as deprived relative to others event those of the same class

Question 12

(Offenders) what has happened to relative deprivation since the 1970s?

Answer 12

Increased particularly for lower classes and ethnic minorities

Question 13

(Offenders) relative deprivation causes discontent expressed through what?

Answer 13

Crime

Question 14

(Offenders) individualism has led to a me first attitude undermining what?

Answer 14

Communities and families

Question 15

(Offenders) individualism weakens what?

Answer 15

Values and social control leading to antisocial behaviour

E.g. Neighbours burgling neighbours

Question 16

(Late modern society and crime) changes in society have led to disintegration of communities and increase in what?

Answer 16

Relative deprivation and crime

Question 17

(Late modern society and crime) how does the media contribute to crime?

Answer 17

Supporting upper class views promoting wealth and materialism

Question 18

(Late modern society and crime) the rapid decline in manual jobs is affecting who?

Answer 18

Lower working class men and Afro-Caribbeans

Question 19

(Late modern society and crime) those at the bottom of the class system are excluded from what?

Answer 19

Jobs - labour market
Housing - middle class move out leaving them in deprived areas
Physically - in prison

Question 20

(Dealing with crime) low police clear up rates has what effect?

Answer 20

Decreased confidence making people reluctant to help the police

Question 21

(Dealing with crime) in response to the lack of help, police turn to military policing what is this?

Answer 21

Stop and searching

Question 22

(Dealing with crime) why did the Brixton riots occur?

Answer 22

Police targeting and military policing

Question 23

(Dealing with crime) a more accountable police force will make them what?

Answer 23

More trusted and communities will become involved in informal social control

Question 24

(Dealing with crime) multiagency intervention is called for what is this?

Answer 24

Education, family, Police and social services all being involved

Question 25

(Dealing with crime) young says we can create a less criminogenic society by increasing what?

Answer 25

Job opportunity
Community facilities
Standards of housing

Question 26

Criticisms - Marxists would say left realists overemphasise street crime ignoring what?

Answer 26

Corporate crime and its importance

Question 27

Criticisms - left realists also trust in self report methods what are the issues of this?

Answer 27

Validity issues

Question 28

Strengths - left realists look at the interaction between what?

Answer 28

Both formal and informal mechanisms of social control

Question 29

Strengths - left realists offer practical solutions such as what?

Answer 29

Policing strategies

Question 30

Strengths - left realists don’t do what?

Answer 30

victimise or blame the police or offender

Question 31

Strengths - left realists don’t trust the stats rather they consider who?

Answer 31

The victims of crime