Realism

Question 1

Roots of left realism

Answer 1

From 1950s there has been an increase of crime
Developed in 1980s/1990s post Thatcher
See society as equal rather than capitalistic
Reformist rather than revolutionary
Believe in gradual change of the current system
Need explanations of crime that will lead to potential strategies for reducing it rather than waiting for a revolution

Question 2

Left realism on other

Answer 2

Marxists focus too much on the crimes of the elites
Neo-Marxists romanticise crimes of the wc, labelling them the modern day Robin Hood
Labelling victim - neglects real victims who are often wc - inter-class crimes

Question 3

Who do left realists talk about which others do not

Answer 3

Victim as it is often the victim who decides if something is a crime, most crimes being reported. Crime is produced through the interaction between offenders and victims

Question 4

Lea and Young 3 related causes of crime

Answer 4

Relative deprivation - how deprived we feel in relation to others. Although people are now better off, they are made more aware of other’s wealth
Subcultures - a group’s solution to rd. While religious subcultures may offer conformity, criminal subcultures offer illegitimate ways to acheive mainstream goals of society
Marginalisation - Powerless to use political means of improving their position so they fall back into violence or rioting

Question 5

Kensie Lee and Young

Answer 5

Police spend too little time actually investigating crime
Military policing - police are over - reliant on public reports, lost support and trust in major cities so they release left

Question 6

Positive evaluation of left realism

Answer 6

Relative deprivation explains why there is still crime with improved living standards
Takes street crime seriously
Mentions roles of victims

Question 7

Negative evaluation of left realism

Answer 7

Fails to explain causes of street crime - interclass
Why do some people experience this and not commit crime
Neglects corporate and organised crimes
Idealistic, lacks solution

Question 8

Roots of right realism

Answer 8

High crime in 70s and 80s in UK and USA, Thatcher and Raegan both wanted to strip welfare benefits and decreas crime
Believe there hasn’t been a significant rise in crime.
Focus more on proposing policies to reduce crime

Question 9

What are the 3 causes of crime - right realism

Answer 9

Rational choice
Broken window theory
The underclass

Question 10

What is rational choice

Answer 10

People weigh up pros and cons before committing crimes
Crime will therefore increrase if there is : low punishment, low rick of getting caught, and if there are quality rewards

Question 11

Cohen and Feison - rational choice

Answer 11

Crime needs 3 conditions to take place - motivation, availability and opportunities and a lack of capable guardians
Most crime was therefore oppurtunistic and not planned

Question 12

Positive evaluation of rational choice

Answer 12

Explains most property crime - 80%
Places blame on criminals

Question 13

Negative evaluation of rational choice

Answer 13

Status may affect this risk too
Fails to mention crimes of passion or street crimes, which occur from the spell of the moment

Question 14

Who talks about the broken window theory

Answer 14

Kellings and Wilson

Question 15

Kellings and Wilson - broken window theory

Answer 15

a sign of disorder and lack of concern for others in the neighbourhood. Includes loud noise, begging, drug dealing, littering and vandalism. This often signals no one cares and invites crime.
An absence of formal and social control, police turn a blind eye making residents feel intimidated/powerless
Respectable people try to move out while deviants move in

Question 16

Positive Evaluation of broken window theory

Answer 16

Supported by CSEW suggesting higher levels of crime in poorer neighbourhoods

Question 17

Negative evaluation of broken window theory

Answer 17

Mixed evidence on if high levels of social disorder leads to higher levels of criminality
Concept of both social disorder and crime are hard to operationalise, different measures, therefore it’s diffucult to test the theory.

Question 18

What is the underclass

Answer 18

The changing family structure since 1970s and 1980s largely attributed due to it allowing for an increasing underclass or rear rubble who fail to socialise their children. Increased because of welfare dependency and growth of lone-parent families
Mothers are also unable to socialise boys without father - explains crime in afro-carribean communities

Question 19

Evaluation of the underclass

Answer 19

Marxists believe there’s a deeper underclass through globalisation
Media focuses on wc crimes and neglects crimes of the elite

Question 20

Right realism - solution

Answer 20

focus on point the criminal and victims meet,. Stem from rational choice throry and involve either reducing oppurtunity or increasing the risk. Increasing surveillance or target hardening.
May be appealing as they are cheap and easy to implement
Anyone can do this : ring door bells, anti climb paint

Question 21

Felson, Situational crime prevention

Answer 21

Port authority New York bus terminal, toilets made smaller to decrease homeless people washing in them

Question 22

Positive evaluation of situational crime prevention

Answer 22

Relatively easy
Makes the public safer
Evidence shows it works - zero tolerance policing made crime decrease 50% between 1993-1996

Question 23

Negative evaluation of situational crime prevention

Answer 23

Crime displacement, just moves crime somewhere else
Only wealthy can afford it
Ignores underlying causes of crime
Too expensive for rural areas with displaced populations.