critical criminology Flashcards
what is critical criminology?
umbrella term for theories and perspectives that challenge the core assumptions of mainstream criminology and provide alternative approaches to understanding crime and its control.
what is mainstream criminology?
establishment, administrative, managerial, correctional, and positivistic criminology. It tends to be narrow, focusing on individual offenders, street crime, and social engineering on behalf of the state
what do critical criminological perspectives do?
reject the idea of scientific objectivity in mainstream criminology, often using interpretive and qualitative methods. They also examine the unequal distribution of power and resources in society
what 3 key publications emerged in 1973 that influenced critical criminology?
- Cohen and Young’s “Manufacture of the News,”
- Taylor, Walton, and Young’s “New Criminology,”
- Taylor and Taylor’s “Politics and Deviance.”
what was the purpose of the ‘European Group for the Study of Deviance and Social Control’ conference in 1973?
the conference aimed to critique dominant criminological traditions and promote a ‘full social theory of deviance.’
what approach did Taylor et al. seek to synthesise in their work?
aimed to combine an interactionist approach to deviancy with a structural approach grounded in political economy and class relations
what do critical criminologists prioritise in their analyses?
the analysis of unequal power, exposing vastly different worlds associated with various types of crime
what difference do critical criminologists highlight between street crime and corporate crime?
highlight the vastly different worlds associated with street crime versus corporate crime, as discussed by Chambliss (1975) and Christie (1977)
how does political economy influence crime according to critical criminologists?
political economy determines much about how crimes are defined and prosecuted, as noted by Chambliss (1975)
what power does the state have regarding experiences of crime?
the state has the power to ‘steal’ our experiences of crime, as explained by Christie (1977)
what did Christie (1993) say about crime control in Western societies?
Christie noted that a vast industry of crime control emerged in Western societies
how do critical criminologists view social injury?
they argue that social injury is analogous to serious injury, and real people suffer real harms even when inflicted by powerful entities, as stated by Michalowski (1985)
what is the danger of ‘trusted entities’ according to critical criminologists?
‘Trusted entities’ can be far more dangerous than stereotypical criminals, as highlighted by Friedrichs (1996)
what do critical criminologists identify in relation to mainstream criminology?
identify glaring gaps in mainstream criminology that they are responding to by covering various areas that mainstream criminology overlooks
what does the term ‘critical criminology’ encompass?
critical criminology is an overarching name for various types of criminologies and criminological perspectives
what are 3 types of critical criminologists?
- left realism and left idealism
- feminist criminology
- cultural criminology
when did left realism emerge?
mid-1800s in the US and UK
who are the 3 key figures associated with the development of Left Realism?
- Jock Young
- Tony Platt
- iam Taylor
what formal publication is associated with Left Realism?
left Realism was formally expressed in the publication “What is to Be Done about Law and Order?” by Lea and Young in 1984
where did Left Realism begin?
left Realism started in Islington, London
what prompted the development of Left Realism according to Jock Young?
politicians approached Jock Young and John Lea, asking what they would do about crime while they were in power during a time of strong leftist movements in cities, despite the neoliberal policies of the central government under Thatcher
how did the political climate influence Left Realism?
the political climate was very policy-driven and politically pushed, with a strong move to the left in cities like London, Birmingham, and Liverpool, prompting criminologists to address crime more actively
what is a key perspective of Left Realism according to Jock Young?
left Realism takes crime seriously and highlights the awareness of people living in inner cities and working-class life, focusing on the problems of crime in those communities
what criticism does Jock Young express about those outside of working-class communities?
Jock Young expresses irritation towards people living on isolated campuses who romanticise crime, suggesting they overlook the real issues faced by working-class individuals dealing with crime, such as prostitution and drug dealing