marxists theory of crime and deviance Flashcards
why does crime happen according to marxists?
-bc of capitalism
-people become greedy and selfish
-GORDON= capitalist society is ‘criminogenic’ causes crime
-capitlaist society is based on profit and gain
why does working class commit crimes and what crimes?
-poorer people cant get consumer goods which are valued and promoted by capitalist s.
-steal to get these goods
-GORDON= the w/c dont commit more crime tho
-LEA and young = w/c commit crime as they are deprived
why do the ruling class commit crime?
and what crimes?
-cpaitalist society makes them greedy
-they more and more and what they dont already have
-BOX= they still want what they dont have so commit white collar crimes
such as fraud, tax evasion in order to achieve this
-CHAMBLIS= also less liekly to get caught so less risk involved
why are the working class more likely to get caught and be prosecuted?
-BOX= laws reflect ruling class ideology
crimes considered serious are by w/c e.g property crime and violence
rather than ruling class e.g env damage
-CHAMBLISS= crime control focused on w/c , w/c likely to be patrolled by police so likely prosecuted
why do the ruling class get away with crimes?
-BOX= ruling class crimes not seen as serious
-CHAMBLISS= crime controlled focused on w/c
-CROALL= white collar crimes are ahrd to defeat and often involve individual victims who report it
-ruling class afford best solciitors and connections to legal system
why has there been an increase in global crimes and green crimes?
-globalisation= increased opportunties for crimes to be committed and has spread the ideas of capitalism and greed around the world
-white cooperative crime and green crime
-have increased as businesses try to make more profit by exploiting workers in other countries breaching health and saftey and env regualtions
-w/c and less developed countries likely to be vcitims
evaluate the traditonal marxist explanations
-over empathsis on property crime and dont explain crimes .eg rape, DV, murder and drug taking
-too determinsitic and doesnt acknowledge free will in deciding to commit a crime
-increase in high profile prosecutions againsit both corportations and thr rich e.g the coporate mansalughter and homicide act (2007)
