Social Class and Crime Flashcards
What do prison statistics show about trends in social class and crime?
Prison populations are made up more of the working class than the middle or upper classes.
What types of crimes do the working class tend to commit?
Street crimes such as theft, assault and shoplifting.
What types of crimes do the middle class tend to commit?
More white collar crime, corporate crime and cyber crime.
What is white collar crime?
When a person uses their job or company to commit crime for personal gain. E.g. embezzlement, fraud and insider trading.
What is corporate crime?
A crime committed by a company in order to increase profits and company standing. E.g. health and safety violations, paying below minimum wage.
What is blue collar crime?
(Street crime) Crimes such as theft, assault, vandalism and shoplifting.
What are 3 explanations for trends in social class and crime?
- Selective law enforcement
- Selective law creation
- Labelling and stereotypes
What is selective law enforcement as an explanation for trends in social class and crime?
The police force and CJS treat the working class and middle class differently. The middle class are more likely to get a slap on the wrist as they're seen as just having made a mistake whereas the working class are more likely to be arrested for the same crime. Many corporate crimes aren't investigated or prosecuted by the CJS.
What is selective law creation as an explanation for trends in social class and crime?
Those who create the law are often of the middle and upper classes, this means that they’re able to manipulate the law into benefiting their own needs and will know ways to manipulate the law for their benefit.
What is labelling and stereotypes as an explanation for trends in social class and crime?
The working class are often labelled as being more criminogenic and therefore the CJS sees them as making conscious choices to commit crime whereas middle class are seen as making a mistake or unintentionally committing a crime.
What are some explanations for white collar and corporate crime?
- Strain theory
- Control theory
- Criminogenic capitalism
- Labelling theory
- Rational choice / Opportunity
- Edgework / Masculinity
What is strain theory as an explanation for white collar and corporate crime?
~Merton strain theory (WC crime)
~There is no limit to financial or material success so even those who appear successful can feel strain (MC crime).
What is control theory as an explanation for white collar and corporate crime?
~The underclass is responsible for the majority of street crime. ~The underclass are more likely to lack impulse control and bonds to the community which prevent them from committing crime. (Hirschi)
What is criminogenic capitalism as an explanation for white collar and corporate crime?
~Capitalism doesn't only encourages the working class to be criminal by creating a culture of envy and hostility. ~The WC commit utilitarian crime to survive in a capitalist system and non-utilitarian crime to vent frustration at being oppressed. ~Middle class crime can be explained as capitalism encourages those who are rich to enrich themselves further.
What is labelling theory as an explanation for white collar and corporate crime?
~The working class are unfairly treated by the CJS, they are less likely to be able to negotiate the system to their advantage. ~The police tend to patrol working class areas more which results in the WC crime statistics being higher than the MC.
