early/modern conflict theory

Question 1

when did early critical approaches arise?

Answer 1

1960s during social/political movements (civl rights, anti-war)
theories arise in context of time
questioned power & inequality

Question 2

assumptions of critical approaches that align with the chicago school?

Answer 2

crime as a construction, macro-level
social disorganization
rooted in Marx

Question 3

Marx and critical criminology?

Answer 3

very influential but also misunderstood

Question 4

Marx main ideas?

Answer 4

engaging in labor gives humans meaning, seeing something through beginning to end - separates humans from animals

Question 5

industrial revolution?

Answer 5

implementation of capitalism
collective factory work - no ties to labor
workers become alienated from products and surplus does to ruling class

Question 6

what is class consciousness?

Answer 6

working class become aware of their position in society and revolt

Question 7

general assumptions of critical criminology?

Answer 7

criminals are socialized
focus on macro level
looks at how society is organized to benefit some groups and disadvantage others

Question 8

according to critical criminology - what is the main goal of CJS?

Answer 8

not fighting crime or uphold law
to maintain existing class dynamics
“the rich get richer”

Question 9

links of wealth and crime?

Answer 9

wealth inequalities causes large gaps with richest and poorest
poor are criminalized more than the rich (by design)
focus on street crimes and ignores ‘crimes of the powerful’

Question 10

media: crime as a lower-class problem

Answer 10

working class portrayed as uneducated, violent, backwards, prone to addiction
creates ‘inherently criminogenic’ image

Question 11

the role of laws:

Answer 11

laws are flexible tools used by ruling class to maintain power

Question 12

the war on drugs:

Answer 12

created by Nixon, pushed MMS, DEA,
used as a political play

Question 13

what is modern critical criminology?

Answer 13

crimes been decreasing since 1990s, but political parties like to use ‘tough on crime’ for political control

Question 14

the role of prisons?

Answer 14

of incarcerated people increasing (especially lower class, Black, Indigenous, minority)
serving time for non-violent, drug related offences
US has largest prison pop.

Question 15

what is the prison industrial complex?

Answer 15

ongoing privatization of prisons and exploitation of cheap prison labour while incarcerating and disempowering people
purpose: making money, not enforcing law

Question 16

what does the 13th amendment say?

Answer 16

slavery is bad, but it’s okay as a punishment for crime!