Right realism Flashcards
Right realism
Linked to right wing politics e.g. Conservative party. Believe in trad views and individual responsibility. Aim to tackle criminals, make it harder/riskier to commit crime. Right realists campaign to introduce harsher punishments e.g. zero tolerance.
Right realists key features:
They assume that value consensus and shared morality underpin society and they assume that people are naturally selfish. They believe in the rational choice theory and assume crime will always exist.
The causes of crime according to Clarke
Clarke believes that criminals have free will and choose to commit crime: Rational choice theory. Crime has increased due to policing been poor, community controls are weak and punishments are too lenient.
Evaluation of Clarke: Positive
Hirschi agrees that people will not commit crime if the risks outweigh the benefits.
Evaluation of Clarke: Negative
Postmodernist Lyng argue that deviance is not always rational, it is often spontaneous and simply for thrills.
Crime control/prevention
Clarke - Most likely to commit an offence due to target attractiveness and accessibility.
Key features of the measures aimed at Situational Crime Prevention
Designing out a crime and target hardening (people make things harder to attack)
Evaluation: Negative
Marxists would argue that SCP ignores white collar crimes and capitalism.
Broken windows theory
Minor vandalism, lack of respect for area, more serious crimes committed. A solution to BWT would be fix any sign of environmental decay immediately.
Evaluation of Wilson and Kelling: Negative
Criticised for the lack of investment. Left realists would criticise as it reduces solutions to crime.
Heavier punishment and policing
Zero tolerance - Punishments are too soft and lenient - ASBOs supported by right realists.
Evaluation of zero tolerance: Negative
Expensive, divert resources away from more serious offences. Garland argues that it may just ‘displace’ crime to another area that isn’t strict. Zero tolerance policing can lead to subcultures or deviancy amplification.
Encouraging communities to take more responsibility
Neighbourhood watch, improving parenting and reducing benefits.
Realist views on crime control and prevention: Right
Being tough on criminals, individuals choose to commit crime (rational choice theory), believe in environmental crime prevention (broken windows theory), believe in situation crime prevention (target hardening, designing out a crime , broken windows).
