Social class and crime Flashcards
What do marxists say about crime?
In a capitalist society crime is inevitable
It is criminogenic
‘dog eat dog system’
white collar and corporate crime
What do they argue happens to the working class?
Exploitation of working class
Upper classes use them to gain profit
This leads to utilitarian crime to gain wealth (monetary value)
This creates alienation, frustration and violence.
What are the positives of marxists approach?
Recognises the cause of utilitarian crime
real life applications
What are the negatives of marxist approach?
working class also commit crime
crime exists in other societies
deterministic
reductionist
What are the ideological functions of law?
Selective law making
Selective enforcement
What is selective law making?
Reiman
Criminal justice system has selected bias
Police are more likely to target working class areas
working class more likely yo be criminalised
What is selective enforcement?
Chambliss
Laws protect private to property
Cornerstone of economy
upper class have power to prevent laws.
Snider
the capitalist state are reluctant to pass laws that regulate businesses/threaten profit.
What is a negative of ideological functions?
The cjs and police argue they are professional organisations and so should comply with regulations
How does crime prevent revolution/
Pearce
Laws which benefit the working class - heath and safety
Stae enforces law selectively
Devices the working class
Media depictations - laws give capitalism a ‘caring face’
False consciousness
What do Neo marxists say?
Taylor, Walton and young
Traditional marxism + labelling theory
Full social theory of deviance
What three things should marxists consider when considering a deviant act?
Structural origins
- unequal distribution of power and wealth
immediate origin
- context in which individuals dicide to commit act
societal reaction to act
- links to interactionalism
