Left Realist Flashcards
How do left realist see crime?
Crimes a problem to society
Agree that an unequal capatalism society influences crime, however we need to provide realistic solutions and reform rather than a revolution
Lea and young- why do they argues crimes not just social contruction?
They believe there has been a rise otherwise they won’t be rising
What crime statistics should sociologists be interested in?
Crime surveys
Lea and young- what does it mean that police focus there recourses on targeting the wrong types of crime and criminals?
Crimes like underage drinking and drugs don’t harm 3 rd parties and only harm offenders so there can be education for them
Should focus recluses on sexual harassment, assault and domestic violence
Lea and young- What are the 3 causes of crime in society?
Relative deprivation
Subcultures
Marganilisation
Lea and Young- relative deprivation?
They believe the w/c are now being able to see middle class success and feel relative deprivation due to the lack of many recourses leading to engagement in crime to achieve means
E.g. exclusive homing can be placed next to affordable accommodation so we are seeing what we can’t have
Lea and Young- subculture?
More subcultures who claim there values are legitimate, leading to deviance
Margenalised groups who disagree with subcultures vakuds
Lea and young- marginalization?
Have clear goods and organized to represent interests
Groups of people like older workers can include trade unions to pressure politicians and employers
Whereas unemployed youth have no one so it’s just a resentment of frustration expressing this via violence and riotinh
What’s proximity?
How close you are to
What’s consumption?
Buying goods
What are trade unions?
Organisations protecting workers rights
What is cultural inclusion and economic exculsion?
Ci- feeling like your values are knowledge
EE- not having money or jobs excluded from socieyy
L&Y- What are the 4 solutions to crime?
Formal control
Offender
Victim
Informal control
L&Y- solution to crime: formal control?
Influence how crimes defined, its social control, how law enforcement is carried out, labelling of crime, styles of policing and ability of police to influence crime levels by deterrents and catching offenders
L&Y- solution to crime: public and informal social control?
Reaction to crime in community’s
Are offenders condemned by family, peer groups and neighbours
Does the public report offences, trust police, buy stolen goods, is offence just part of the community
L&Y- solution to crime: Victims?
Why do people become victims, what can they do about it
-Victims often in same ethnic group, class, community (if in relationship with offender)
How do victims view offender, will they report it and will police do anything
L&Y- solution to crime: Offenders?
Is it crimogenic triangle factors
Left realism and social policy- what did Tony Blair say?
‘Tough on crime tough on the causes of crime’
Left realism and social policy- Young?
Solutions to crime needed to deal with marginalisation and relative deprivation
Greater trust in police
Increase power of informal social control
-Policing only effective with cooperation of public, democratic control of the police and improve relationship between police and public
Left realism and social policy- Crime and disorder act 1988?
Prosecutors apply for an uplift in sentence for those convicted of a hate crime
-‘Any criminal offence motivated by hostility or prejudice based on disability, race, religion, sexual orientation or transgender’
Left realism and social policy- The new deal?
Workfare programme introduced to UK by first New labour govt in 1998
Purpose was to reduce unemployment by providing training, subsidised employment and voluntary work to unemployed
New deal was £1.3 bill in 2001
Left realism and social policy- ASBO’s crime and disorder act 1998?
ABOS- civil orders existing to protect the public from, behaviour causing or likely to cause harassment and alarm distress
Order contains conditions prohibiting offender from specific anti social acts or entering defined areas, now called criminal behaviour orders
What is neighbourhood watch?
Neighbourhood Watch is about people getting together with their neighbours to take action to reduce crime.
What is police and crime commission?
A police and crime commissioner is an elected official in England and Wales responsible for generally overseeing police services. A police, fire and crime commissioner is an elected official in England responsible for generally overseeing both police and fire services.
What is BME in police force?
Drive to recruit more ethnic minority’s
Police and crime commissioner and police recruitment polices- key concerns?
Distrust between police and public
Neighbourhood watch- key concerns?
Lack of informal social control
Labour new deal for unemployed youth- key concerns?
Social inequality (Marginalised, relative deprivation)
ASBOs, criminalising hate crime- key concerns?
Importance of listening to victim
Changes to laws
Criticisms of LR- Marxism?
Doesn’t give enough status to the impact of capitalism
Criticisms of LR?
-Focusing on street crime ignores huge harm via white collar crime
-Not everyone who experiences relative deprivation commits crime
-Since the 1900s crime rates overall have fallen suggesting its not the big threat left realists believe, however there has been a rise in fear of crime (could be due to moral panic)
Criticisms of LR- Labour policies?
Are they a success?
ASBO’s is a badge of honour and new deal fails to create new jobs
