Social Class

Question 1

Godon (1976)

Answer 1

Crime is a rational response to the criminogenic capitalist system

A system that is based on the exploitation of the working-class therefore by its very nature it causes crime

Question 2

William Chambliss

Answer 2

Argued that ‘at the heart of the Capitalist system lies the protection of Private Property. Consider the fact that there are roughly 100, 000 people recognised as homeless in the United Kingdom and 300, 000 houses lying empty

Question 3

Laureen Snider (1993)

Answer 3

Capitalist states are reluctant to pass laws which regulate large capitalist concerns and which might threaten profitability.

Question 4

Reiman (2001)

Answer 4

‘street crimes’ such as assault and theft are far more likely to be reported and pursued by the police than much ‘white-collar’ crime such as fraud or ‘insider trading’

Question 5

Pearce (1976)

Answer 5

Capitalism is given a ‘caring’ face, this creates false consciousness among the workers.

Question 6

Althusser

Answer 6

the law is an ideological 
state apparatus which functions in the interests of the capitalist class to maintain 
and legitimate class inequality

Question 7

Mannheim

Answer 7

the law is mainly concerned with protecting the

major priorities of capitalism

Question 8

Stephen Box

Answer 8

the ruling class have the power to prevent laws
being passed which are not in their interest. For example, deaths of workers because of infringements of health and safety laws are a civil rather than criminal offence. 

the ruling class can ensure that their activities are not 
defined as criminal.

Question 9

Sayer (2015)

Answer 9

the rich largely shape the law so that they do

not end up in prison.

Question 10

Not all capitalist societies have high crime rates

Answer 10

The murder rate in Japan is 1.00 per 100, 000,

but in the USA, it is 5.6.

Question 11

Croall

Answer 11

Crimes of the poor (left or benefit fraud) are generally treated more harshly than crimes of the wealthy (tax evasion)