Crime and Punishment Flashcards
Give 6 points in regards to crime and punishment
- Deterrence
- Rehabilitation
- Retribution
- Functionalism
- Marxism
- Postmodernism
What do functionalists believe about punishment?
The purpose of punishment is to reinforce social regulation and deter future offending
What do marxists believe about punishment?
Punishment and prisons are a part of the RSA and reinforce ruling class power
What do postmodernists believe about punishment?
Punishment is a move from sovereign power to disciplinary power
Give an example of deterrence and supporting evidence
- CCTV, surveillance (target hardening), harsh sentences (e.g. London Riots)
- Tent City - On display to deter people from committing crime
Give an example of rehabilitation and conflicting evidence
- Norway Bastoy Island - Restorative Justice
- Victims and society may not want rehabilitation but punishment
Give an example of retribution and conflicting evidence
- Super Max Prison, Community Service
- 85% of victims/families are more satisfied when offenders are restored back into society
Give an example of the functionalist perspective of punishment and conflicting evidence
- Traditional society and stoning
- Not all societies use restorative justice - Middle Eastern countries use punishments such as stoning
Give an example of the marxist perspective of punishment and conflicting evidence
- Selective enforcement - the rich rarely go to prison. Prison is now a business for the bourgeoisie
- Left Realism - Root causes need to be addressed otherwise prisons will remain ineffective
Give an example of the postmodernist perspective of punishment and conflicting evidence
- Self surveillance (e.g. panoptican - prisoners could constantly be watched so didn’t misbehave)
- Crime rates are still high and many prevention strategies still in place
