Right Realism - Solutions Flashcards
What are the two solutions to tackling crime according to RR
Zero tolerance
Target hardening
What is meant by Zero tolerance
Harsher on minor offences will reduce crime overall and help people feel safe
-crack down on minor crime
-immediate punishment
-harsher punishment = increased prison use
No crime will be tolerated message
What is the name of the theory by Wilson and Kelling
Broken Windows theory
What is the Broken Windows theory
A broken window left unattended will cause crime to increase
People will assume no one cares for the area
Maintain social control by dealing with minor disturbances immediately
What is the second solution to tackling crime according to RRs
Target Hardening
Who spoke about Target Hardening
Cohen and Felson
What is Target Hardening
When a previous target for crime is made into a difficult or less attractive one = situational crime prevention
e.g steering wheel locks
CCTV
What are 2 positives of Target Hardening
Some evidence that target hardening and zero tolerance is successful: rapid fall in crime in New York when Zero tolerance introduced
Influenced USA and Uk Policy - harsher sentences and increased officers
What is one negative of Zero tolerance
Young - zero tolerance = urban myth
Decline in crime in New York crime was happening before zero tolerance - politicians want to take credit for the ‘zero tolerance’
What are 5 overall negative evaluation points for RRs solutions to tackling crime
Focused on street crime and not corporate
Labelling gives police more opportunity to discriminate
Displacement of crime - does not reduce crime, juts moves it to places with less target hardening
States with death penalty - increase in crime rates compared to those without
LR - promotes ‘military’ policing which marginalises people and leads to more crime - riots
