Right Realism Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the basics of REALISM in general?

A

Developed in 1980s when = rise in crime rates
Claim that crime = social construction, very real problem that blights people’s lives
Argues we need to ‘get real’ about crime + find practical ways to tackle it

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2
Q

Give 2 reason why REALISTS in general are critical of other perspectives

A
  1. Not taking crime seriously, reduces it to simplistic moral panics (Cohen)
  2. Romanticising criminals, labelling theory paints them as Vs, Marxism paints them as ‘Robin Hood’ figures etc
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3
Q

Why does Right Realism have the greatest influence on current Home Office policy?

A

Because it has practical policies on crime prevention

Right Realists link closely with the Conservative G

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4
Q

What does Wilson argue we should do rather than trying to tackle the causes of crime?

A

We should try to reduce the impact that it has on people’s lives

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5
Q

What are the 2 main ways Right Realists aim to reduce crime by tackling criminals?

A
  1. Heavier punishments for those convicted (deter future crime)
  2. Increase the risk to criminals by increasing the chance of detection
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6
Q

What are 5 key features of right Realism?

A
  1. Assume value consensus + shared morality underpin S
  2. Assumes people = naturally selfish
  3. Believe in community control (people taking individual responsibility for their area)
  4. Rational choice + empathy, assume that individuals choose to commit crime
  5. Assume that crime will always exist
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7
Q

What theory does Clarke use to explain the increase in crime?
Briefly describe the theory

A

Rational Choice theory
Argues that individuals choose crime
people weigh up the costs + benefits before choosing whether or not to commit crime
Must therefore be dissuaded from crime to punished for it

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8
Q

What 3 reasons does Clarke argues that there has been an increase in crime?

A
  1. Policing = poor: criminals know there = little chance of being caught
  2. Community controls (informal social control) are weak e.g. people = too scared to report criminal neighbours in high crime areas
  3. Punishments are too lenient
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9
Q

How does Hirschi (control theory) support the work of Clarke?

A

Agrees that people will not commit crime if the risks outweigh the benefits
e.g. social bonds - don’t want to risk loosing them, such as love + respect from friends/ family

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10
Q

How would Postmodernists criticise the work of Clarke?

A

Deviance isn’t always rational

Often spontaneous + simply for the thrills (Lyng: edgework)

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11
Q

Name the 2 situational crime prevention strategies

A
  1. Designing out crime

2. Target hardening

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12
Q

How does Clarke (1992) define situational crime prevention?

A

‘Pre-emptive approach that relies not on improving S or its institutions, but simply on reducing the opportunities of crime’

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13
Q

What are the 3 key aims of SCP measures?

A
  1. Directed at a specific crime
  2. Involve managing/ altering the immediate environment of the crime
  3. Aim at increasing the effort + risks of committing crime + reducing the rewards
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14
Q

Describe the SCP strategy of ‘designing out crime’

A

Means that when a housing development/ retail area etc = 1st built, planners should carefully consider the design
IOT reduce crime that can take place

e.g. ensuring good visibility in all areas (housing estate = cul-de-sac)

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15
Q

Describe the SCP strategy of ‘target hardening’

A

= introducing measures to property/ goods/ people to make them harder to attack

e.g installing burglar alarm/ security lights

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16
Q

What are 2 criticisms of SCP strategies?

A
  1. Marxists: Ignores white collar crime + true cause of crime; capitalism (criminogenic)
  2. Those living in deprived areas = most likely Vs, yet = least able to afford target hardening measures
    - focus of CJS/G should be on helping those who = prone to being Vs, not pushing responsibility/££ back on them
17
Q

Give the name of the 1 Environmental Crime Prevention strategy

A

Broken Windows Theory

18
Q

Who developed the broken window theory?

A

Wilson + Kelling (1982)

19
Q

What does Wilson argue that crime is caused by?

A

INCIVILITIES (anti-social behaviour)
e.g. vandalism, ‘gangs’ intimidating the elderly

If these behaviours = tolerated + allowed to continue, areas deteriorate - sense of ‘anything goes’ develops

20
Q

What is the main premise of the broken window theory?

A

If broken window (symbol of social disorder/ lack of community concern) isn’t repaired, other windows = likely to be broken
Further social disorder will follow

If community allows physical environment to decline, further damage + anti-social behaviour will occur

  • less likely to have informal social control imposed by other residents
  • whole neighbourhood = deteriorate into high crime rates
21
Q

Give the 3 solutions to the broken window theory, prosed by Wilson + Kelling (1982)

A
  1. Fix any sign of environmental decay immediately
  2. Reduce high social housing (Wilson: max 3 storeys + residents should be forced to look after common areas)
  3. Police should react to minor crimes (vandalism) not just focus on serious ones - zero tolerance policy
22
Q

What evidence can be used to support the zero tolerance policy?

A

Comes from New York City’s ‘Clean Car Programme’
As soo as graffiti = seen on subway train, = taken out of service + cleaned
Dramatically reduced graffiti
+ crime levels within the city between 1993-96

BUT = Q if reduction in crime = result of zero tolerance policy OR 7,000 extra police officers on the streets

23
Q

Give the 2 criticisms of Wilson + Kelling’s work

A
  1. On grounds that = lack of investment + not ‘incivilities’ that cause neighbourhoods decline, not thesis
  2. Left Realists: only short-term fixes rather than long term economic improvements (generating jobs in deprived areas)
24
Q

Right Realists believe that more powerful social control needs to be exercised over communities + individuals

Name 2 ways in which this can be done

A
  1. Heavier/ stricter policing + punishments (zero tolerance)

2. Communities taking more responsibility

25
Q

What are the Right Realist views on current punishments?

A

Too soft
- less community service, more imprisonment
Argue that this would deter potential criminals

26
Q

Give 3 criticisms of the zero tolerance policy

A
  1. Very expensive - divert resources from more serious offences
  2. Zero tolerance of very trivial offences can generate widespread resentment (lead to formation of subcultures, deviancy amplification…)
  3. Garland: just ‘displaces’ crime to another area that isn’t as heavily policed
    - supported by Chaiken: NYC, crack down on subway robbers, just displaced them to streets
27
Q

What does Garland argue the zero tolerance policy does?

Who supports this idea?

A

Just ‘displaces’ crime to another area that isn’t so heavily policed
Supported by Chaiken: NYC = crackdown on subway robbers
Just displaced them to streets above

28
Q

Social policies arising from Right Realism often involve what?

A

Stricter socialisation of young people into the differences between right/ wrong
+ stricter informal social control in communities

29
Q

How can crime be reduced by encouraging communities to take more responsibility? (3)

A
  1. Neighbourhood watch (informal surveillance)
  2. Improving parenting (more responsibility of supervision + socialisation) punish parents with parenting orders (compulsory classes) - Dennis + Erdos
  3. Reducing benefits (Murray: reduce/ abolish completely, encourage under class to find legitimate work)