right/left realism on crime Flashcards
RIGHT
WILSON + HERRINSTEIN - questioning unemployment to explain crime
Question that crime is a result of poverty/unemployment
Since 1960s USA has been very prosperous
High levels of employment
Lot of social programmes aimed at young people
Education attainment levels higher than ever
Yet, crime rates are still very high
Blame biological/social factors
RIGHT
CLARKE - rational choice theory
Individuals make a choice about committing crimes based on rational calculation
If the rewards of a crime outweigh the consequences of being caught, then people will offend
RIGHT
FELSON - routine activity theory
For a crime to take place, there needs to be a motivated offender
Suitable target – victim
Absence of capable guardian (police officer or neighbour)
Criminals act rationally, the presence of a guardian will deter them
RIGHT
CHARLES MURRAY - deplorable behaviour
‘Under class’
Not so much about poverty – more about deplorable behaviour
Teenage mums – live off benefits
Children inadequately socialised
Large numbers of healthy young males who refuse to work
LEFT
KINGSLEY, LEA + YOUNG - policing problems
Police ‘clear up rates’ are too low to act as deterrent
Police depend on the public for information, but they are losing support
Police rely on military policing such as swamping an area
LEFT
LEA + YOUNG - causes of crime
Relative deprivation
Feelings of resentment caused by the media/advertising
Increase in individualism
Lack of community spirit, decline in family life
