Marxist Theories of Crime Flashcards
What do Marxists suggest about crime?
The Justice System distracts the working-class from their own exploitations, instead redirecting their frustration onto criminals within their class.
- Selective law enforcement imprisons the WC, which prevents potential resistance.
- Punishing WC individuals shifts blame from the capitalist system.
- Labelling criminals as ‘animals’ justifies locking them away, hiding the need to address inequality.
What are the causes of crime according to Marxist theorists? (Criminogenic capitalism)
Crime is inevitable because capitalism by its very nature causes crime, as it is based on the exploitation of the working-class which causes frustration, therefore a rise in crime.
What does Gordon theorise? (Criminogenic Capitalism)
Crime is a rational response to the capitalist system, a natural response to the competitiveness and inequality of life; ‘dog eat dog’ world.
E.g: poverty means that crime is the only way the WC can survive / alienation; a lack of control over status leads to frustration and non-utilitarian crimes.
Selective Law Creation:
Law making only serves the interests of the capitalist class. Chambliss = laws to protect private property are the ‘cornerstone’ of the capitalist economy.
The RC have the power to prevent introduction of laws that would threaten their interests. E.g: workers’ rights, minimum wage increases.
Why does Selective Law Creation perform an ideological function for capitalism?
Laws are occasionally passed that appear to be for the benefit of the working-classes, even if these laws are not rigorously enforced, but Pearce says that these are just used to give capitalism a ‘caring’ face, creating a false consciousness amongst workers. E.g: workplace health and safety laws.
Selective Law Enforcement =
Box highlights that the criminal justice system disproportionately targets WC people while ignoring white-collar crimes, reinforcing social inequalities.
Powerless groups such as the working classes are criminalised. E.g: street crimes such as theft are more likely to be reported and pursued by police than white-collar crime such as fraud.
How does Selective Law Enforcement perform an ideological function?
It promotes the idea that crime is primarily a problem of the lower classes, diverting attention from the crimes of the powerful and maintaining the dominant ideology.
- Divides the WC, blame each other for their problems instead of overthrowing capitalism.
Evaluation of Marxist theories of crime:
Strengths = highlights white-collar crime, shows a link between the law and the interests of the ruling classes.
Weaknesses = deterministic. E.g: Japan are capitalist, but have low crime rates.
