Governing Through Crime

Question 1

Jonathan Simon on governing through crime, 2013

Answer 1

Argues that governments of advanced societies are facing a crisis - governing through crimes; namely that they criminalise any acts which they deem to be wrong or problematic, relies on primary law enforcement e.g. Police and punishment
Perpetuated by public demand for punishment

Question 2

Jonathan Simon on governing through security

Answer 2

Argues that Governing through security (doing as much as possible to reduce risk of harms or crimes occurring such as identifying dangerous groups by stereotype or suspicion before a crime is committed) can be effective but is used by governments to reduce the appearance of social control, creating an illusion of freedom

Question 3

Loic Wacquant on race factors in US incarceration

Answer 3

Study of US incarceration: since 1989, inmate race proportions has shifted from 70% white to almost 70% black and Latino
Argues that this is mainly due to Ronald Reagan’s ‘war on drugs’

Question 4

Julie Berg, 2018, on governing through harm

Answer 4

Argues that by governing through harm the actual social issues which cause crime can be addressed - it deals with the root issue rather than punishing the consequent acts