Ethnicity and crime

Question 1

Why black people appear more criminal - lea and young

Answer 1

Differences in statistics are the result of black people being discriminated in wider society
- Police racism is not the cause since 90% of crimes are reported by the public

Question 2

Why black people appear criminal - Gilroy

Answer 2

BME do not commit more crime than others. It is the result of racist policing who act on stereotypes
- When resisting racism in Britain, it is criminalised

Question 3

Why black people appear more criminal - Hall et al

Answer 3

In the 1970s, there was a moral panic about black people and mugging. This is because capitalism was in crisis and they used this story to cover it up. Thus, black people were not more criminal but a mere victim of capitalism
- Black people were unable to get jobs because of this therefore turned to crime

Question 4

Black people are more criminal - education

Answer 4

Black Caribbean pupils statistically perform poorly in education, and therefore may find it hard to find a legitimate and sufficiently well-paid job

Question 5

Black people are more criminal - family (functionalists)

Answer 5

The growing rate of a lone-parent family structure with in the black community leads to inadequate socialisation, therefore children are not taught the correct norms and values of society

Question 6

Black people are more criminal - media

Answer 6

Media representations reinforce the stereotype that black people are more criminal. This may lead to a self fulfilling prophecy and black people will in turn commit more crime
- Cohen moral panics