Class, Power and Crime Flashcards
How do functionalists explain class differences in crime?
-Crime is the product of inadequate socialisation
-complex division of labour leads to different subcultures in classes and groups
How do strain theorists explain class differences in crime?
As w/c are more likely to be denied legitimate oppurtunities, they are more likely to attempt success illegitimately
How do subcultural theorists explain class differences in crime?
w/c form delinquent subcultures due to status frustration
How do labelling theorists explain class differences in crime?
w/c more likely to be labelled as criminals by law enforcement agencies
According to Marxists, how is capitalism criminogenic?
Gordon
-poverty may mean crime is the sole means of survival
-crime may be the only way to get consumer goods encouraged by capitalist advertising, utilitarian crime
-Alienation/lack of control leads to frustration,leads to violence
How does capitalism cause crime in the ruling class?
-dog eat dog world
-m/c commit crimes out of greed, and self interest
breaking the law seems insignificant compared to pressures to succeed
How do Marxists see the state and law making?
Chambliss- laws to protect property and profits of rich and powerful (East african colonies-A02)
Snider- laws that regulate the activities of buisnesses will not be passed
According to marxists, what is selective enforcement
The idea that the crimes of the wealthy are ignored whilst w/c and Em are criminalised
What are the ideological functions of crime and law
-Creates false class consciousness; healthcare benefits depict ‘caring face of capitalism’
-Selective law enforcement presents crime as a working class issue, preventing a revolution against capitalist regime
How can the marxist view of crime be criticised?
-Largely ignores relationship between crime and gender/ethnicity
-Not all capitalist societys have high crime rates e.g Japan
–Left realists argue it ignores intra-class crimes (between same class)
How does neomarxism agree with marxism?
-capitalism is based on power and wealth inequalities that lead to crime
-State makes/enforces laws that benefit ruling class
-Capitalism should be replaced by a classless society
How do Neo-marxists (Taylor et al) criticse marxism?
It is too deterministic, criminals not passive puppets
-Believe crime is a conscious choice that often has a political motive e.g to redistrubute wealth to the poor
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What theory did Taylor et al come up with?
A fully social theory of deviance
What did the fully socially theory of deviance aim to do?
Provide a comprehensive understanding of crime and deviance to improve society
What are the 6 aspects of the fully social theory of deviance
-The wider origins of the deviance (unqual wealth distribution)
-The immediate origins of the act (context)
-The act itself
-Immediate societal reaction
-Wider societal reaction
-The effects of the labelling
Evaluate critical criminology
-Feminists argue it is gender blind as it ignores female criminality
-Romanticises w/c criminals as ‘robin hoods’ when they mostly prey on the poor
Who coined the term ‘white collar crime and what is it?
Sutherland
-Crimes commited by a person of high status
According to Sutherland, what are the two types of white collar crime?
Corporate- by employees to meet organisations goals e.g tax evasion, fraud
Occupational crime- by employees for own personal gain, often against organisation e.g embezzlement/fraud
What are the costs of coorporate crimes?
physical-deaths,injuries and ilnesses
environmental-pollution
economic- affects workers, consumers, taxpayers etc.
-Thus is more costly than street crimes (10x more)
What types of crimes are subdivided into corporate crime?
-Financial crimes e.g tax evasion
- against consumers e.g false labelling
-against employes e.g discrimination
-Against environment e.g pollution
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How can white collar crime affect society in terms of abuse of trust?
We entrust high status individuals with our health,finances etc.
-This crime violates that trust leading to a lack of trust in institutions
How can the case of Harold Shipman show an abuse of trust?
-beliveved to have killed over 200 of his patients
-used forgery and deception to get powerful opiates planning to kill, only got a warning for that
-undermines the trust society puts on professionals
What are the 5 different reasons in which corporate crime is invisible?
-The media (sanitised language)
lack of political will (politicians focus on street crime)
-Complexity (lack of expertise)
-Delabelling(fines not jail, civil cases not criminal)
-Underreporting(due to powerlessness/ lack of understanding it is a crime
How can the idea of the invisibility of crime be criticised?
-Whistle blowers inside companies + media report crimes
-Companies more exposed to scrutiny now
How can the strain theory explain corporate crime?
Box- if a company cannot meet its goals (maximum profit) it will employ illegal means instead
How can differential association explain corporate crime?
-If a companys culture justifies commiting crimes, employers will be socialised into this
-Techniques of neutralisation (Sykes and Matza) make it easier to conitnue doing crimes e.g everyones doing it’
How can the labelling theory explain corporate crime?
Nelken- m/c often have power to avoid the labelling e.g lawyers
-Crimes of m/c not labelled as criminal
-Official statistics underreport due to this
How can Marxism explain corporate crime
-Capitalism has created ‘mystification’ (Box) that CC is less widespread/harmful
-Capitalist system doesnt enforce laws that dont benefit corperations
