Right Realist/Left Realist View On Crime Flashcards
What is realist view of crime?
They don’t believe that crime is a social construct.They think that crime is a REAL issue and we need to tackle it
ALL REALIST THEORIES?
-Argue that other theories doesn’t offer realistic solutions to the problem
-Are concerned with widespread fear of crime and impact it has on victim
Who does Right Realism follow?
New Right conservative view point
What stance did Right Realist take?
-They took a ‘get tough’ stance on crime and increased the use of prisons and the death penalty (in USA)
-They wanted young offenders to get a ‘short stop shock’
James Q. Wilson say about crime?
people choose to commit crime
-Right realist view of tackling crime is to control, punish
and containment
Right Realist say about Crime prevention?
•Zero tolerance -Their goal was to make crime look less attractive.Therefore punishments would be increased so higher the consequences of the crime
•’Target Hardening’-make sure to lock your door and secure your stuff
What is Broken Window Thesis is?
-Disorder goes untreated
-Then citizen withdraw from society
•Wilson and Kelling’s article suggest that any graffiti or broken windows should be dealt with immediately
Criticisms of Zero tolerance?
•Jock Young says the success was a myth.The politicians took credit for a fall in crime that was already happening.The Crime rate was falling in other places that did not have a zero tolerance stance
• It’s preoccupied with petty street crime and ignores corporate crime which is more costly and harmful
• Gives police free rein to discriminate against minorities
•Zero tolerance and target hardening just lead displacement of crime to other areas
Who does Left Realism follow?
Structural socialist view point
What does Left Realism believed?
-left realist believe that society is unequal in favour of the capitalist
-They are different to Marxists as they promote gradual change and reform rather than a violent overthrow
Left Realist take crime seriously?
-Central idea-Crime is a real problem so should be taken seriously as it affects particular group in society
They say that other theories do not take crime seriously?
•Marxism-concentrate too much on crimes of the powerful.They neglect the w/c crimes and their effect
•Neo Marxism-They romanticise the w/c criminal as modern day Robin Hood.Stealing from the rich to give to the poor when actually w/c crimes are towards w/c people
•Labelling-They see w/c criminals as victims.They neglect the real victims=the working class people that suffer at the hands of criminals
What is Aetiological crisis?
Young says left realist are aware that crime is increasing.However other theories do not believe this to be true.This has led to aetiological crisis-a crisis in explanation
Left Realist explanation of why people commit crime?
1) Relative deprivation
2)Marginalisation
3)Subcultures
How does Relative deprivation cause crime?
-Lee Young says deprivation + individualism=crime
This means that the more individual we are encouraged to be the more we compare our resources and lives to other people.This means we are more likely to commit crimes
-Suggest crime is rooted in deprivation however they don’t believe in main cause for e.g. poverty was high in 1930s yet criminals were low
-They draw upon the idea we don’t know we are deprived until we are compared to others
