Lect 1- what is CCTV

Question 0

list 3 reasons why average citizens believe that CCTV cameras are ‘fairly effective’?

Answer 0

1. The seductive promises of crime control
2. General fear of crime
3. The idea of a rational criminal and the perfect witness

Question 1

What is CCTV?

Answer 1

• closed circuit camera that is connected to a monitor
• Used for monitoring and watching
• prevention of crime control

Question 2

In reality, how successful are CCTV cameras?

Answer 2

In reality, CCTV cameras have limited or inconsistent affects on crime.

Question 3

What reading talks about the creation of CCTV cameras and how effective it is on crime control in Britain, parts of Europe and the rest of the world?

Answer 3

The article “Theres no success like failure” by Clive Norris

Question 4

Although stats show that CCTV cameras don’t really help with crime control, what are 3 reasons why the governments want them around?

Answer 4

1. Sometimes it could help with crime control
2. It makes people feel safe
3. People consider surveillance as a tiny price to pay for security

Question 5

What does it mean to be Xenophobic?

Answer 5

Xenophobia means the fear and hatred of foreigners and strangers based on no valid reason

Question 6

In Alice Goffman’s “On the Run” Article, what was the main issue she brought up?

Answer 6

Her article is based on research she did on black males living in the ghetto under a warrant. She draws upon the fact that they are always on the run from the police due to constant surveillance and monitoring. They cannot check into hospitals, pay child support or see their kids. The warrants they have could be due to small crimes such as possession of drugs, but they spend a lifetime running from the police

Question 7

What is the main issue of CCTV cameras?

Answer 7

The main issue is that often times CCTV monitors a certain “look” of people based on a stereotype. The individual that monitors and watches the footage of CCTV cameras has a specific idea of what a criminal should look like, therefore only targeting people who fit in that category while ignoring a vast amount of others who could be potential criminals. The footage captured by CCTV cameras can be interpreted in a lot of ways depending on who’s viewing it

Question 8

What is the issue of gender inequality and CCTV?

Answer 8

The fact that only males are mostly monitored by CCTV cameras because they’re more thought of as committing a crime than females. The only times females are monitored is when the individual who is monitoring the cameras finds her attractive

Question 9

What is a ‘Risk Society Mentality’?

Answer 9

A risk society mentality is the idea that developed post 9/11 that says that we are always under some sort of threat and danger

Question 10

What resulted from the Risk Society Mentality?

Answer 10

Legitimizing increased surveillance via CCTV cameras and other methods of monitoring individuals. It made people believe that if they are innocent, they don’t have anything to worry about and that they wont be monitored if they’re free of criminal activity.

Question 11

Define Scopophilia?

Answer 11

It means “The Love of Watching”