C&D- Crime Control, Surveillance, Prevention And Punishment, And The Role Of The CJS and Other Agencies Flashcards
What is crime control?
Crime control is a form of formal social control that reflects society’s norms and values, which may change over time.
Left Realists: How do Left Realists believe crime can be prevented?
Left Realists argue that crime prevention can be achieved by addressing the causes of crime, such as marginalisation, relative deprivation, and social exclusion.
Left Realists: What is Lea and Young’s main argument for reducing crime?
Lea and Young argue that tackling social problems like inequality and exclusion will lead to a decrease in crime rates.
Right Realists: What do Right Realists criticise about Left Realist approaches?
Right Realists claim that Left Realists are too lenient on crime and that their prevention strategies are costly and time-consuming.
Right Realists: What do they believe causes crime?
Right Realists argue that crime stems from individuals making a rational decision to commit an illegal act, often due to weak social control.
Right Realists: What is their solution to prevent crime?
Right Realists advocate for reinforcing social control through institutions like the family and employing situational crime prevention strategies.
What is situational crime prevention?
A Right Realist approach focused on reducing crime by designing out opportunities for it to occur and increasing the risk of being caught.
What assumption underpins situational crime prevention?
Right Realists assume everyone is potentially likely to commit crime if the risk is deemed worth taking.
How does situational crime prevention work?
It reduces opportunities for crime by changing the physical environment, such as installing CCTV or improved lighting.
Chaiken et al (1974): What criticism do they raise about situational crime prevention?
Chaiken et al argue that situational crime prevention does not reduce crime but displaces it to areas without these measures.
What are the limitations of Right Realist approaches?
•They ignore the social causes of crime, such as inequality.
•They fail to account for selective policing of certain groups (e.g., ethnic minorities).
What criticism is raised against situational crime prevention?
It may simply lead to crime displacement, where offenders commit crimes in less secure locations rather than stopping altogether.
How do Left Realists propose improving police-public relations?
•Build positive, trusting relationships between the police and the public.
•Public involvement in choosing senior police personnel.
•Organize public meetings to discuss community issues.
What role does police accountability play in Left Realist strategies?
Left Realists emphasize making the police more accountable and transparent, ensuring they are perceived as fair and effective.
What policies do Left Realists suggest to address deprivation?
•Initiatives like Sure Start to reduce cultural and material deprivation.
•Encourage better parenting to tackle social exclusion and increase social mobility.
What is the role of community building in Left Realist strategies?
•Foster collaboration between the police and communities through schemes like Safer Neighbourhoods.
•Encourage Neighbourhood Watch programs to promote local reporting and surveillance.
What is the Left Realist approach to multi-agency collaboration?
The police should work with social workers, schools, and doctors to address the social issues of offenders and victims and encourage vulnerable people to report crimes.
How do Right Realists view the role of the police?
•Ensure a greater police presence to deter crime
•Emphasise the importance of police efficiency and toughness, demonstrated through performance statistics.
What parenting policies do Right Realists advocate?
•Encourage stricter parenting to prevent delinquency.
•Impose fines on parents who allow their children to truant from school.
What community strategies do Right Realists support?
Encourage local communities to watch and report suspicious activities through programs like Neighbourhood Watch.
What is the focus of situational crime prevention strategies?
•Introduce measures to make crime more difficult, such as:
•Installing CCTV.
•Using anti-climb paint.
•Implementing other deterrent tools to secure properties.
Comparison of Left and Right Realist Strategies
Similarities:
•Both value police-community collaboration.
•Support community initiatives like Neighbourhood Watch to involve locals in crime prevention.
Differences:
•Left Realists: Focus on addressing social causes like deprivation and inequality.
•Right Realists: Emphasize individual responsibility, tough policing, and deterrence measures.
ECP: How can crime be prevented through the environment?
Crime can be prevented by making criminal behavior less acceptable or normal in the environment. By taking a tough stance on all crimes, even minor ones, it deters others from thinking they can get away with committing crimes.
ECP: What is the ‘broken windows’ theory?
•Theory: Developed by Wilson and Kelling (1982), it suggests that visible signs of decay (such as broken windows) in an area show weak social control, making criminal behavior seem acceptable.
•Implication: If these signs are left unrepaired, it signals that deviance is tolerated, potentially leading to more crime.