Realist Theories Of Crime Flashcards
What do realist theories want to do
They see crime as a real problem to be tackled not just a social construct and want to explain rising crime levels.
-they offer practical solutions and social policies to tackle crime.
right realisms main ideas
Wilson- zero-tolerance approach to crime- punish all crimes in order to prevent bigger crimes
Reduce crime through control and punishment
Poverty is not a catalyst for crime
Argues other theories are too sympathetic to criminals eg lebelling theory and Marxist theory
What are the three causes of crime according to right realists
1- biological differnces
2- socialosation of the w/c
3-rational choice theory
How do biological differences lead to crime
Wilson
- some of the men at predisposed to criminal behaviour as they’re more likely to have traits like aggression, low impulse control and low IQ
How can Socialisation of the w/c cause crime
Right realists believe - Nuclear family is best for socialisation to learn law abiding values and norms.
Welfare state is making nuclear family less common as encourages lone-parents and a dependent w/c and lack father figure to socialise them correctly which can lead to criminal behaviour eg gangs.
How can rational choice theory cause crime
People have free will and choice to offend. They weigh up the benefits (material gain) and the cost (prison) if there h benift outweighs the cost they’re more likely to commit crime. Wilson suggests the high crimes rates are due to low level of perceived risk of being prosecuted.
Solutions to crime right realism
1-Environmental crime prevention-
2-situational crime prevention
3- custodial sentencing and zero tolerance policing
What is environmental crime prevention
Broken window theory- Wilson
- if a symbol of social disorder eg broken window is not repaired quickly then other windows are likely to be broken or more ain’t-social behaviour will occur as people think they will get away with it. Keep environment in good physical condition so people respect it.
Situational crime prevention
Clarke
Reduce opportunity for crime through CCTV, alarms, spikes in fences, locked doors. More likely to get caught so when they’re weighing up benefit and cost they’re more likely to get caught so less likely to commit crime ( rational choice theory)
Custodial sentencing and zero tolerance policing
Tougher and longer sentences so the cost outweighs benefit reduce offending.
Punishing petty small crimes to prevent bigger crimes happening
Evaluation disadvantages of right realism
Solutions to crime
❌- situations prevention can’t be afforded by poorer people eg CCTV, alarms etc so it displaces crime to poorer areas where criminals are more likely to get away with it.
❌- ^ policing and prison time js counter productive and has no rehabilitive value as offenders likely to reoffend when they come out.
❌- ignores the crimes of the powerful and focus’ on petty street crimes
❌Sociallt sensitive to non-nuclear families and too deterministic that single parent families can’t raise kids right
Advantages of right realism
✅- offers real life solutions to crime unlike Marxist and labelling theorists.
✅- study- New York used zero policy policing and say 36% reduction in violent crimes and 50% decrease in homocides. Shows it’s effective.
✅research support - kids from lone parent families more likely to offend then people from nuclear families
Left realisms main ideas
-sees society as unequal and these structural inequalities lead to crime
-recognise high levels of crime in deprived areas
-believe in gradual change no a violent overthrow of capitalism
Left realists causes of crime
1- relative deprivation (Young)
2-marginalisation
3- subcultures
How does relative deprivation cause crime
Comparing themselves to others and seeing themselves as poor. Advertisements make people think they need to keep up with the latest trends and buy consumer goods and stress the importance for economic success.
W/c struggle to achieve these goals legitimately so turn to illegitimate means (crime) to achieve it.
How does marginalisation cause crime
Social exclusion due to w/c having poorer education, lower employment and less involvement in the community leads to anti-social behaviour (crime) as a way of expressing their frustration to exclusion.
How do subcultures cause crime
W/C deviant subcultures gives a solution to relative deprivation and marginalisation by grouping together/ forming gangs that turn to crime as a solution to material deprivation and gives themselves a community (solves marginalization)
Solutions of crime
1-Muti-agencies working together - police and council, social services working together to tackle crime and be more responsive to the locals needs and build trust between the institutions and the public.
2- tackle social deprivation - reducing unemployment among the working class and improving housing and improve community facilities eg youth groups and community centres to divert youngsters from crime.
3- parenting support - sure start children centres to help parents and kids in the poorest areas where the risk factor of crime is the greatest.
Advantages of left realism
✅- it does not glamoirzie crime as Marxist do and offers real-life solutions to tackle crime.
✅- recognises that crimes have the most devastating impact in poorer areas and that most offenders and victimes are w/c so offer social solutions to help them.
Disadvantages of left realism
❌- Marxist argue that they ignore the crimes of the powerful eg white collar and cooperate crimes and overexagerate w/C Street crime.
❌- downplay the role of the offender willingly choosing to commit crime and blames relative deprivation almost making the offender a victim.
❌- too deterministic not all w/c who are deprived turn to crime and go against the norms and values of mainstream society.
