Realist approaches to crime Flashcards
How do right realists view crime?
See crime as a real problem for society; they see the cause of it as partly biological and party social. Because these causes cannot easily be changed, they focus on deterring offenders. Blame the individual rather than society.
How do left realists view crime?
Believe crime is caused by relative deprivation, subcultures and marginalisation. Their solution for such stems from reducing societal inequality. Blame it on society not the individual.
How does left and right realists view on crime differ?
Left blame criminal activity on society not the individual, whereas right blame it on the individual not society
What are right realists explanations for crime?
Biological factors: characteristics, personality etc
Poor socialisation of the underclass
Rational choice: decision to commit a crime is based on a rational calculation of consequences. Cost + benefit analysis
What are left realists explanations for crime?
Relative deprivation, subcultures and marginalisation
What do Lea and Young argue?
relative deprivation leads to crime because people who are deprived resent others having more material goods than them, thus resorting to illegitimate means to achieve the same level of materials.
How do right realists believe we should tackle crime?
Zero tolerance policing, broken windows theory and target hardening.
What is the broken windows theory?
It is essential to maintain orderly characteristics of neighbourhoods and reduce any signs of crime immediately.
What is zero- tolerance policing?
Police should patrol the streets and take a ‘short, sharp, shock’ approach, and carry out on stop and search on suspicious characters.
How do left realists believe we should tackle crime?
policing and control, tacking structural causes of crime
What is policing and control?
Policing must be made accountable to local communities, and need to improve their relationship with such communities by spending more time investigating crime, and involving the community in making policing policy.
How can we tackle structural causes of crime?
Reduce inequality of opportunity, discrimination and provide jobs for everyone.
