Realists Flashcards
What do Right realists think of crime?
Street crime is a real and growing problem
Put governments away from searching to prevent crime to crime control
Reject the idea that the cause of crime is inequality
Wilson - biological differences. Personality traits that are agressive and risk taking. Low intelligence
Murray- lack of socialisation, culture of dependency, lone mothers are ineffective socialising agents
What is the rational choice theory according to RR?
Assumes all individuals have free will. Decision to commit a crime is based on rational calculation of the consequences. If the rewards seem greater than the risks they will commit crime. There is little punishment and costs of crime according to RR = crime
How is RR criticised?
Ignores wider structural causes like poverty
Overstates rational choice- non pre meditated crime
Overemphasises biological factors
If they are unintelligent and unsocialised how are they rational?
What is zero tolerance policy?
Broken windows theory= neighbourhoods must stay orderly, any sign of graffiti etc must be dealt with. Some places are too far gone to save
Introduced in New York
How is zero tolerance a myth? How is it criticised?
Widely applauded for reducing crime but Jock Young argues it was a myth peddled by politicians and police to take credit
The crime had already been falling
Preoccupied on petty crime
Gives police free rein to discriminate
Just leads to displacement of crime
How do left realists criticise other theorists?
Marxism has concentrated on corporate crime and neglects effects of wc crime
Neo marxists romanticise wc criminals as Robin Hoods defying capitalism
Labelling neglects real victims
What are the 3 causes of crime according to LR?
Lea and Young-
Relative deprivation- eg poverty was rife in 1930s, crime rates were low, other way round in better standard of living 1950s
People resort to crime to buy the things they see advertised
Subculture- a subculture is a wc solution to rp. Some may turn to crime to close deprivation gap, some may turn to religion
Marginalisation- unemployed youths ave no one to represent them= frustration and powerlessness = crime
How should crime be tackled according to LR?
Police need to improve relationship with public by involving the public and changing their priorities
Improve housing and community facilities
Influenced new labour
How is LR criticised?
Fails to explain corporate crime
Left R rely on victim surveys that don’t explain motives
Assumes that value census exists and that crime only happens when it breaks down
Over predicts crime
