Class, Courts and Punishment Flashcards
Social Exclusion Unit Report 2002
two thirds were unemployed prior to imprisonment.
Crow at al (1995)
75-91% of those that come before the magistrates are unemployed.
Surveying Prisoner Crime Reduction 2012
13% of prisoners have never had a job
64% had been receiving benefits 12 months prior to imprisonment
47% had no academic qualifications
Differential Treatment? Bennet 1979
Middle class juveniles are more likely to be cautioned
Differential Treatment? Bennet and Farrington 1981
Policing “bad attitude”
The rich or upper classes are more likely to be sent to an open prison.
Different crime types?
Middle class offences VS ordinary crimes lower level of harm and less emotive crimes so less punitive punishment.
Differential treatment? No further action
Health and Safety Executive 86% NFA compared to police 38% NFA
Differential treatment? Money scams
HM Revenue and customs more likely to prosecute for benefit fraud than tax evasion even though its a smaller amount.
Differential treatment: Prison
Employed less likely to be sent to prison-
- the have job to pay fine
- unemployment is seen as a reflection of character (Cavadino)
Political economic foundations
Neo liberal- high imprisonment rates as have surplus populations in capitalist society. Cant work or contribute to economy so warehouse them, rather the rehabilitate and reintegrate.
Conservative Corporatism- Germany
Social Democracy- Sweeden.
Weberian theory
In white collar/ corporate crimes the higher status/ higher class you are the more likely the judge will punish more harshly as they have betrayed the status group- double deviance. Honor according to certain status groups.
