Does prison work? Flashcards
Functionalists
see punishment and prisons as acting in the interests off the whole of society
Durkheim - functionalists
- punishment is important for maintaining boundaries in society
- should be visible to keep other members of society in check
- reinforces social solidarity and consensus as people join otgether to condem the criminal
- traditional society/punishment was based on retributive justce (severe, brutal, based on revenge)
- modern society values reestitutive justice (efforts to restore situation)
marxists
see punishment and prisons as maintaining capitalist society by serving the interests of the capitalist class
Althusser - marxist
regarded prisons as part of the repressive state apparatus RSA whereby punishing those who seek to challenge the system, the ruling class excert their formal social control. Coupled with the ideological state apparatus ISA capitalism can continue unchallenged
puishment is selectively enforced by those with power
+ sociologists
rusche and Kircheimer
- as the interests of the ruling class evolve, the form of punishment can adapt accordingly
- prison was useful in early capitalism for training workers to accept the discipline of long hours in poor working conditions
right realists support functionalist views on the importance of law and punishment for maintaining social order
- where social control is weak, crime occurs
- prison acts as a crime deterent
- curfews and electronic tagging can be used to keep costs down
left realists argue that punishment should rehabilitate criminals
- reduce reoffending rates by tackling causes of crime
- ie material deprivation and marginalisation
- re-educating prisoners and providing support
- community service alternative
