3.2 Marxists On Crime Flashcards
What does criminogenic capitalism mean?
Capitalism creates crime
(Criminogenic capitalism) how does poverty link to crime?
Crime is the only way people can survive
(Criminogenic capitalism) how is crime linked to consumerism?
People commit crime to get the consumer goods promoted by advertising that they can’t afford
(Criminogenic capitalism) how does alienation and lack of control lead to crime?
It leads to frustration and non utilitarian crimes
(Criminogenic capitalism) emphasis on profit encourages what?
Greed and corporate crime
(Criminogenic capitalism) Gordon says crime is what?
A rational response to capitalism
(State and law making) Marxists say laws are made to protect who?
The ruling class and their business interests
(State and law making) chambliss what was introduced into East African colonies?
Tax laws to force the population to work on plantations to earn the money to pay the tax
(State and law making) snider talked about non decision making, what is this?
Ruling class prevent introduction of laws threatening their business interests
(State and law making) snider - give an example of areas of non decision making:
Alcohol and cigarette industry
Pay gap
Working conditions
(Selective law enforcement) everyone commits crime but who are more likely to be imprisoned?
The working class and ethnic minorities
(Selective law enforcement) what was reimans study called?
The rich get richer the poor get prison
(Selective law enforcement) Reiman - the more likely a crime is to be committed by a high class person the less likely what?
It will be treated as an offence
(Selective law enforcement) Reiman - there is a disproportionately high rate of what?
Street crime
(Ideological functions of crime & law) laws are occasionally passed that appear to do what?
Benefit the working class such as health and safety
(Ideological functions of crime & law) Pearce - how do health and safety laws really benefit the ruling class?
Keep workers fit and create a false class consciousness giving capitalism a caring face
(Ideological functions of crime & law) Carson - laws are not rigorously enforced of 200 firms how many broke HS laws?
All of them
Only 1.5% prosecuted
(Ideological functions of crime & law) crime appears to be all working class encouraging what?
Divisions in the working class making them blame the criminals rather than capitalism
(Ideological functions of crime & law) the media portray criminals as disturbed concealing what?
The fact that capitalism is the main issue
(Corporate crime) what is corporate crime?
Crimes committed by big businesses often affecting a lot of people
(Corporate crime) why are they rarely prosecuted or reported?
Not a single bad guy
Many responsible
Money and power to keep it quiet
Strengths - Marxists show a link between law making and what?
Capitalist interests
Strengths - Marxists explain why the working class are what?
Viewed as criminal
Strength - Marxist ideas have influenced more research into what?
Corporate crime
