Right Realism

Question 1

Wilson (3)

Answer 1

Rather than tackling the causes of crime we need to reduce the impact it has on people’s lives: need heavier punishments and increase the chance of detection

Question 2

Key features (4)

Answer 2

Assume that value consensus and shared morality underpin society
Assume people are naturally selfish
Believe in community control
Individual responsibility

Question 3

Clarke (4)

Answer 3

Clarke believes criminals have free will and choose to commit crime, crime has increased for several reasons:

1. Policing is poor
2. Community controls are weak
3. Punishments are too lenient

Question 4

Evaluation (2)

Answer 4

Hirschi agrees that people will not commit crime if the risks outweigh benefits :)

Postmodernists like Lyng argue that deviance is not always rational, its often spontaneous and for thrills (edgework)

Question 5

Opportunity Theory (Clarke) (2)

Answer 5

Target attractiveness: how attractive the object to be stolen is to the offender
Accessibility: how easy it is to steal, ease of escape and likelihood of offence being witnessed

Question 6

‘situational crime prevention’

Answer 6

Installing measures that make crime harder to commit

Question 7

Designing out crime

Answer 7

Cul-de-sacs are designed to reduce the crime that can take place

Question 8

Target hardening (3)

Answer 8

Measures to make places harder to attack e.g. alarms, CCTV, tall walls

Question 9

Wilson and Kelling: Broken windows theory (4)

Answer 9

‘environmental crime prevention’
Wilson argues crime is caused by anti-social behaviour which allows areas to deteriorate
‘broken windows’- a symbol for social disorder and if not repaired the environment declines= further damage and anti-social behaviour will occur
If the area looks shoddy people are more likely to abuse it resulting in more serious crime

Question 10

Solutions (3)

Answer 10

Fix any signs of environmental decay immediately, reduce high-rise social housing, police should react to minor crimes

Question 11

Evaluation of Wilson and Kelling

Answer 11

‘broken windows’ thesis has been criticised on the grounds that it is lack of investment and not anti-social behaviour that causes areas to decline :(

Question 12

Heavier policing and punishment (3)

Answer 12

More powerful social control needs to be exercised over communities, zero tolerance of all antisocial behaviour, punishments need to be harsher

Question 13

Evaluation of heavier policing and punishment (2)

Answer 13

Zero tolerance policing of very trivial offences can generate widespread resentments and lead to formation of subcultures :(

Garland argues it may just ‘displace’ crime to another area that doesn’t have such strict policing :(