Crime drops and limits of criminal justice Flashcards
Was the Police as a deterrent effective?
No, police often missed lots of crime, there was pressure to give the public a sense of security.
How did the government refocus the Police?
They used intensive intervention in high crime areas.
Increased foot patrolling
Random patrols
What was the NYC policing experiment?
This included a massive rise in stop and frisk (85% were minorities). They put an emphasis on quality of life and criminalised street vending.
How do prisons control crime?
Deters those who experience it from reoffending
General deterrence for public
Prison is a site of reform and rehab
Those in prison can’t reoffend once inside.
What explanations are there for the crime drop which go beyond the CJS.
Improved crime prevention
Cars are harder to steal
Consumer goods have better security.
Standard goods have limited re-sale value.
How do life changes affect crime rates?
Turning points in peoples lives stop them from turning to crime.
Stable relationships with non-drug users.
Regular employment.
What was the 1972 Kansa city experiment?
Police patrolling in cars were found to be less likely to catch a criminal and were less likely to spot a crime occurring.
What theory did Wilson and Kelling create in 1982?
Broken window theory - the idea that unchecked incivilities undermine community cohesion.
You have to nip small crime fist to stop major crime.
What is Steven Levitt’s theory as to why crime fell?
The decline in crime occurred before the NYC experiment.
There was also declines in other cities who adopted different strategies.
Huge increase in police officer numbers.
What is the relationship between the drugs epidemic and crime rate.
People turn to crime to fund their drug use.
The drug economy is policed by violence.
Some drug users commit high levels of crime.
