Right Realism

Question 1

What are the basics of REALISM in general?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

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

Answer 2

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

Question 3

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

Answer 3

Because it has practical policies on crime prevention

Right Realists link closely with the Conservative G

Question 4

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

Answer 4

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

Question 5

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

Answer 5

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

Question 6

What are 5 key features of right Realism?

Answer 6

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

Question 7

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

Answer 7

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

Question 8

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

Answer 8

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

Question 9

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

Answer 9

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

Question 10

How would Postmodernists criticise the work of Clarke?

Answer 10

Deviance isn’t always rational

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

Question 11

Name the 2 situational crime prevention strategies

Answer 11

1. Designing out crime

2. Target hardening

Question 12

How does Clarke (1992) define situational crime prevention?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

What are the 3 key aims of SCP measures?

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Describe the SCP strategy of ‘designing out crime’

Answer 14

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)

Question 15

Describe the SCP strategy of ‘target hardening’

Answer 15

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

e.g installing burglar alarm/ security lights

Question 16

What are 2 criticisms of SCP strategies?

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Give the name of the 1 Environmental Crime Prevention strategy

Answer 17

Broken Windows Theory

Question 18

Who developed the broken window theory?

Answer 18

Wilson + Kelling (1982)

Question 19

What does Wilson argue that crime is caused by?

Answer 19

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

Question 20

What is the main premise of the broken window theory?

Answer 20

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

Question 21

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

Answer 21

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

Question 22

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

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Give the 2 criticisms of Wilson + Kelling’s work

Answer 23

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)

Question 24

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

Name 2 ways in which this can be done

Answer 24

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

2. Communities taking more responsibility

Question 25

What are the Right Realist views on current punishments?

Answer 25

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

Question 26

Give 3 criticisms of the zero tolerance policy

Answer 26

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

Question 27

What does Garland argue the zero tolerance policy does?

Who supports this idea?

Answer 27

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

Question 28

Social policies arising from Right Realism often involve what?

Answer 28

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

Question 29

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

Answer 29

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)