Durkheim (1895) & The Function Of Crime

Question 1

How does Durkheim view society? (4)

Answer 1

• people agreeing and buying into a value consensus
• the collective well-being of society as a whole can be achieved
• crime is inevitable
• positive social change starts with deviance

Question 2

Contemporary example that supports Durkheim (suffragettes)

Answer 2

• Feb 2018: 100 year anniversary of the ‘Representation of the People Act’ 1918 which allowed women over 30 who owned property to vote
• suffragettes willingly broke the law to raise awareness of their campaign - “Deeds, not words”

Question 3

How does crime bring society together?

Answer 3

• crime re-affirms collective conscience
  -when a tragedy occurs, people have social solidarity to express how they feel and show support
• therefore, crime acts as a form of boundary maintenance

Question 4

Contemporary example that supports idea of social solidarity? (3)

Answer 4

• 2019, New Zealand: terrorist shootings at Mosques left 51 dead, 49 injured
• committed by a white supremacist who is now convicted
• world united in grief

Question 5

Evaluation against idea that crime promotes social solidarity? (2)

Answer 5

• crime is a symptom of social solidarity breaking down?
• in order for extremist groups to conduct attacks, social solidarity isn’t strong enough in the first place

Question 6

How is crime functional in society? (2)

Answer 6

• crime provides jobs in society
• high unemployment is dysfunctional and no crime-related jobs could lead to anomie

Question 7

Describe the deterrence function and how open courtrooms enable it (2)

Answer 7

• members of the public viewing court cases deters them from committing crimes
• as they see the consequences of committing crimes, they are reminded about the boundaries in society

Question 8

Evaluation against deterrence argument (3)

Answer 8

• not always effective
• only effective in cases where offenders have planned their crimes - for thisenwho act on impulse it is ineffective
• high rate of recidivism among those who have been in prison

Question 9

How do restorative justice punishments reinforce social solidarity? (2)

Answer 9

• show remorse
• community sentences: tidying parks and gardens helps to re-integrate into society which can allow social stolidarity to strengthen

Question 10

Contemporary example of restorative justice punishment working

Answer 10

• ex-offender Peter Woolf met a vidtim of a violent burglary he committed and formed a bond of empathy, leading to the formation of a charity called “Why Me?”