Chapter 9 / Understanding Critical Criminoogy Flashcards
punitive turn
The move from criminal justice policies and programs aimed at rehabilitating offenders toward those that simply offer punishment for its own sake. This shift occurred despite declining crime rares and evidence that punishment is nor always effective,
critical criminology
A school of thought with multiple sub-fields, but largely concerned with social justice and inequality, promoting active opposition to the status quo, and favoring larger-scale societal transformations rather than minor policy changes..
Marxism
A school of thought developed by Karl Marx (1818-1883) arguing that society must be understood in terms of social conflict, class relation,s and the inequalities caused by capitalism; Marxists promote revolution bu the working class.
conflict theories
Theories, originating primarily with Marx, that focus on the unequal distribution of power in society - for example, due to class, race, or gender. Conflicts between classes or groups are driven to a large extent by this unequal power and unequal access to resources.
interactionist perspectives
A theoretical approach that focuses on relatively small-scale social interactions among individuals or small social groups, as well as the conscious acts of individuals and their interpretation of others’ behavior.
moral panic
Phenomena - socially constructed by the media politicians, and “moral entrepreneurs” - in which certain people or groups are labelled or stigmatized as the cause of a perceived social problems, resulting in widespread public alarm
critical race theory
A theory that examines the ways in which race and racial power are constructed by law and society. and that sees the law and criminal justice system not as solutions but as a part of the problem.
post-colonial theory
The wide-ranging academic study of the social, political and cultural legacy of colonial rule and its effects on individual and group identities and social power relations,. It also examines the domination of other vultures through a discourse of “otherness.”
systemic racism
The belief that racism does not occur in isolated instances, but is entrenches in and perpetuates by our criminal justice system and other institutions.
racial profiling
The act of tendency of law enforcement officers and others to consider people suspicious or morel likely to commit crime because of the colour of their skin or their ethnicity.
post-structuralism
A theoretical perspective concerned with how power operates between and among individuals, groups, social institutions (as opposed to belonging to the state or power elites alone). Post-structuralists look for differences in power in ares such as language use and social practices.
discourse
Refers to forms of language, representation, and practices and how meaning is created and shared. Discourses take place within specific cultural and historical contexts.
Foucauldian
Relating to the works of influential French thinker Michel Foucault.
social justice
Movement promoting the need for equality, tolerance, and fairness for all members of society,particularly with regard to different classes and the less privileged..
restorative justice
An approach to justice and sentencing, often influenced by Aboriginal culture, that emphasizes the healing and reconciliation of victims, perpetrator, and their communities, and promotes positive social engagement instead of social control.
