Crime and Society

Question 1

Durkheim

Answer 1

Crime can often be seen as a breakdown in society where the system isn’t functioning properly.

BUT Durkheim argues that:

This reaction is a sign that society is working and is healthy.
Crime has a social function, not pathological
Criminals play a crucial role in social life
Low crime rates are dangerous

Question 2

A functionalist perspective

Answer 2

Functionalist

Society as a complete system - to understand crime is to understand as part of a society without it there would be no society at all

Crime is normal where in every society there will always be some sort of crime even if it’s not typical.

Crime binds us together and gives us a sense of what is right and wrong.
Crimes are actions that offend collective feelings.

Question 3

The Importance of Punishment

Answer 3

• Punishment is emotional and expressive
• It denounces moral wrong
• It is an expression of blameworthiness of criminal group
• It re-states social norm broken
• …therefore helping to ‘repair’ it
• Punishment therefore helps restore social solidarity
• Punishment shows us what society thinks is wrong.
• Outrage if punishment isn’t strong enough
• Crime is that which violates the collective conscience
• Reflects social conventions which
• Vary across time and place
• Crime is not fixed

The right amount of crime?
• Too low = society is too repressive
• Too high = society isn’t regulating itself properly

Question 4

Connection between punishment and reoffending

Answer 4

There is a connection between punishment and reoffending.
• Importance of social forces in regulating behaviour
• Theory of ‘penal evolution’:
• Punishment becomes less barbaric
• Deprivation of liberty replaces torture/ execution
• Crime is fluid and not fixed.