Right realism Flashcards
What political party is right realism associated with?
- neoliberal government- faith in capitalism and minimal state interference in economy
What’s the difference between left and right realism?
Left blame society whereas right blame the individual
3 main causes of crime?
- Biological/ psychological
- Inadequate socialisation
- Rational choice theory
How is biological/pyschology a cause of crime?
- Wilson and Herstein
- some innately more predisposed to crime than others
- could be due to personality traits or could be due to low intelligence which they believe is biologically determined
Criticism of biological/psychological?
Labelling/victim blames
How is inadequate socialisation a cause of crime?
- Murray
- increasing underclass is to blame for crime as defined by deviant behaviour and fail to socialise their children properly
- underclass has increased bc of increased welfare dependency meaning a decrease in marriage and increase in lone parent as children and women can live off benefits
- lone mothers are ineffective agents of socialisation because of lack of fathers where they would receive paternal discipline and male role model
- status through crime in subcultures
Mooney
Evaluation for Murray-> we shouldn’t blame lone parents are they are more likely the victim of crime. 1/5 experienced violence over a year
Wilson
Rational choice theory
What is rational choice theory?
- offender consciously chooses to commit crime by weighing up costs and benefits
- crime= benefits outweigh costs so best solution is to reduce its impact and increase detection
- people naturally selfish and self seeking (like functionalists believe)
Why is community in crime prevention important?
Form of crime control, strengthens bonds in communities, stricter socialisation through family and education
Why are Marxists critical of rational choice theory?
It suggests white collar crime and corporate crime are victimless and shouldn’t be a focus for police
Wilson and Kelling
Broken windows theory- solution to crime
What does broken windows result in?
Members of community feeling powerless and as police are only concerned with serious crime and the situation deteriorates so neighbourhood is in spiral of crime
How has broken windows led to solutions in crime?
Zero tolerance policing like on the spot fines for littering, excessive little discretion and dispersal orders.
This was successful in New York in 1990s as had 68% reduction in 6-8 years
Evaluation of zero tolerance solution?
- does this give police free reign to target marginal groups?
- is this creating conflict between public and police?
- ignores corporate crime
- focus on street crime
Situational crime prevention
Solution to crime
- makes deviance harder to achieve (target hardening) like more CCTV/speed cameras
Evaluation of situational crime prevention?
- displaces crime to less well protected areas (WC)
- corporate crime?
Punishment ?
Solution to crime
- containment and quick/harsh punishment of crime may act as deterrent for further crime
- however, prison is ineffective as boundary malintencionado
Evaluation for punishment
LR-> prison numbers should be cut as it results in labelling, it does not solve reasons.
75% experienced violence over—inmates reoffend within nine years if release
