Marxism

Question 1

criminogenic capitalism

Answer 1

crime is inevitable. capitalism is criminogenic, it causes crime. crime is based on exploitation of WC, they are used for profit.
WC commit crime because its the only way they can get out of poverty & survive . its their only way to have consumer goods (think of GAP crime).
RC want the American dream, they just wanna be richer. so they commit corporate crime. Gordan - crime is a rational response to capitalism, which is why its found in all social classes.

Question 2

criminogenic capitalism AO3:

Answer 2

Marxism is too deterministic, not all people commit crime despite poverty and alienation. (too simplistic).
not all capitalist societies have high crime rates - think back to Japan.

Question 3

The State and Law Making

Answer 3

law enforcement serves interest of capital class. Chambliss - argues that laws to protect private property are the cornerstone of the capitalist economy, they are vital to protect private property ownership. RC have the power to prevent crime that might harm their interests. think back to when the British enforced taxation on Africa…

Question 4

state and law making AO3:

Answer 4

The CJS does implement laws the benefit society e.g. NHS,
Feminists argue that these laws only benefit men.

Question 5

Selective Enforcement

Answer 5

the criminal just system picks and chooses who to prosecute and who to turn a blind eye to. powerless groups (WC and EM) are criminalized. Reiman found a disproportionally high rate of prosecutions for street crime. yet with high class crime, the CJS takes a forgiving view.
Chambliss argues that the CJS focuses on ‘crimes of the streets’ ignoring ‘crime of the suites’.
some RC crimes were prosecuted to put a caring face on the system.

Question 6

selective enforcement AO3:

Answer 6

(Positive) Carson found that in a sample of 200 firms, all had broken health and safety laws, yet only 1.5% of cases were prosecuted.
you can also use the Bernard Madoff case, 150 years in prison - for fraud.

Question 7

Ideological functions of crime and law

Answer 7

(capitalism is an ideology). laws spread ideas that help keep workers passive. some laws benefit workers, e.g. laws for peace, but this just puts a caring face promoting false class consciousness.
Gordon - the purpose of this is to distract the WC of their exploitation by directing their frustration towards inequality (divide and conquer). this provides a safety valve or any crime towards RC.

Question 8

IFOCAL AO3:

Answer 8

Hall et al - ‘policing the crisis’, a moral panic was generated over black muggers which served to distract the WC from the crisis in capitalism.
realists theorists would say that crime is real and needs to be resolves rather than helping RC stay in power.