Realist Theories of Crime Flashcards
See crime as a real problem, especially for victims, and they are concerned with political crime prevention through social policy measures.
Realists
Reformist socialists who favour policies to tackle structural inequalities and promote equality. ‘Tough on the cause of crime’.
Left Realists
Conservatives who support a ‘zero tolerance’ stance on crime - they focus on hard measures to prevent crime from happenning. ‘Tough on crime’.
Right Realists
Wilson - Argues that some people are biologically prediposed to commit crime.
Biological Differences
Murrary - Argues that they largely attribute the growth of crime because of a growing underclass, who are defined by their deviant behaviour and failures to socialise their children properly, which leads to a moral decline.
The Underclass
Wilson - Argues that individuals are naturally selfish, individualist and greedy and that people engage in a rational choice about whether or not to commit crime.
Rational Choice Theory
Refers to measures aimed at reducing the opportunities for crime in any given situation.
Situational Crime Prevention (SCP)
Measures to make it more difficult to steal things e.g. CCTV.
Target Hardening
Newman (1972) argued that by changing the design of streets and housing estates, it was possible to make them safer.
Defensible Space
Routine activity theory - Argue that crime occurs as part of everyday routines when these three conditions are present: suitable target, no ‘capable’ guardian, and when a potential offender is present
Felson and Clarke
Includes formal and informal social control measures which try to clamp down on anti-social behaviour and prevent an area from deteriorating.
Environmental Crime Control and Prevention
Wilson and Kelling’s theory - No matter how rich or poor an area is, one broken window would lead to more windows being broken.
Broken Glass Theory
