MARXIST THEORYS ON CRIME

Question 1

Outline the basic principles of Marxist perspective on crime

Answer 1

Marxists believe that our society is crimenogenic and crime is a response from those lower down in society to the unfair inequality in the life of capitalism. This explains the link between relative poverty and high offending rates.

Question 2

What does chambliss argue regarding crime

Answer 2

Chambliss argues that the law reflects the interest of the ruling class and to keep the lower classes in their social position. Agencies of control help protect the ruling class and criminalise anyone who opposes them. 
Chambliss also argues that there is one rule for the rich and another for the rest of society. For example, the law is selective applied and official statistics which are largely a working class phenomenon are used to distract society away from those commiting the biggest crimes of all such as white collar crimes

Question 3

What is the neo Marxist view on crime

Answer 3

They claim that Marxist theories are too deterministic in that people are driven to crime beyond their control. They suggest that crime is a choice.

Question 4

Outline the new criminology

Answer 4

A concept developed by Taylor in 1973 which was essentially a less narrow minded approach to crime looking at elements including reasons behind each criminal act and role played by the media etc.

Question 5

Outline gilroys view on crime

Answer 5

Gilroy claims that working class crime is a form of police rasicm and harassment. He argues Afro-Caribbean’s are no more criminal than whites but are labelled by the police as criminals and are treated unfairly. This is called the myth of black criminality

Question 6

Outline neo Marxist halls perspective on crime

Answer 6

Crime is used to reassert the dominance of the ruling class when it is under threat. This is done through the media who exaggerate the problem of the working class especially black crime.

Question 7

Evaluate the Marxist approach

Answer 7

It helps locate crime in the wider context of wealth and power
Demonstrates how law reflects differences in power between social groups

Overemphasises class inequalities in relation to crime 
Functionalists would argue that the criminal justice system acts equally