Crime - Marxist theories of crime Flashcards

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1
Q

what do traditional marxists believe about crime

A

crime is inevitable in capitalist societies as capitalism is criminogenic, causing crime by its very nature

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2
Q

trad - how is capitalism criminogenic

A

‘dog eat dog’ society that encourages self interests and greed over collective wellbeing as its a ‘win at all costs mentality’.

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3
Q

trad - what are ways capitalism causes crime

A

poverty may mean only way w/c can survive is crime
utilitarian crime may be only way to get capitalist good like the ads show
non-utilitarian crimes may be only way the w/c can deal w alienation and lack of control over their lives

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4
Q

trad - why do the wealthy commit crime too

A

capitalism is competitive - need to win no matter what/stay in business encourages capitalist to commit white collar crime
gordon- rationalist response to capitalism so its found in all class

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5
Q

trad - what are overall evaluations for traditional marxism

A

too deterministic - assumes everyone w/c turns to crime
reduces it down to just capitalism, ignores other facts e.g ethnicity

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6
Q

trad - whats snider’s selective enforcement

A

within criminal justice system, theres a selected bias when applying the law - corporate crimes dealt with more leniantly whereas small financial crimes comitted by poor are met with harsh prosecutions. police also more likely to target w/c areas and criminalise them more than the r/c

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7
Q

trad - what example can be applied to snider’s selective enforcement

A

jimmy carr tax avoidance scheme, his only punishment was a fine which wouldve been easily paid off by someone rich

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8
Q

trad - what does snider say about the state passing laws

A

capitalist state relunctant to pass laws that threaten the profibility of their businesses e.g laws against pollution or worker health and safeties

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9
Q

trad - what does chambliss say about selective law making

A

the r/c have the power to prevent laws being put in place that threaten their interests e.g laws to protect private property are the cornerstone of capitalism

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10
Q

trad - what is chambliss’ property laws example

A

tresspassing laws, right to own private properties. argues that these were firmly set up by the state to ensure wealth stays in the family to inherit

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11
Q

trad - whats an evaluation of selective enforcement

A

professionalism - law makers and criminal justice system are professional organisations and surely would comply with regulations

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12
Q

trad - what does pearce say about the ideological functions of law

A

state puts in place laws that benefit the w/c e.g health and safety laws to present capitalism as having a ‘caring face’, maintaining false class consciousness as the w/c then blame the criminal for their crimes rather than capitalism. prevents revolution

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13
Q

trad - whats an evaluation for ideological functions of law

A

law makers are elected officials and professionals, have knowledge of what laws theyre putting in place
ignores the victims of crimes & only focuses on class

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14
Q

how is neo-marxism different to marxism

A

capitalism is the root of all crime BUT believe crime is voluntarist and criminals aren’t just passive puppets of capitalism.

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15
Q

whats taylor walton and young’s full social theory of deviance

A

the structural origins of the deviant act (unequal distribtion of wealth in society).
the context the person decides to commit the act
the act itself & its meaning
the social reactions of those around the deviant act
wider origins of societal reactions - who has the power to define an act as deviant & label others, why some are treated more harshly
the effects of labelling on the deviant

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16
Q

neo-marxism - what’s stuart hall’s policing the crisis

A

1972-73 saw 60 events reported as muggings despite mugging not being a legal term in the UK. Home secretary reported a 129% increase of muggings in london the past four years

17
Q

neo-marxism - stuart halls policing the crisis applied to full social theory of deviance

A

1 - economic recession
2- high unemployent particularly among black men
3- mugging, need money to survive
4- media outrage and police targeting
5- diversion and dividing the w/c
6- no revolution, police racism and loosing confidence in the CJS by ME groups

18
Q

neo-marxism - what are evaluations of neo-marxism

A

Rock - romanticises criminals into robin hood figures
Not all crime is politically motivated