Social Class and Crime - Crime

Question 1

What are the main trends?

Answer 1

OCS show crime is more likely to be committed by w/c:

• there are proportionately more people of unskilled occupations (or unemployed) than skilled arrested each year and in prison
• BUT OCS largely excludes white collar crimes/corporate crimes which are committed by m/c and r/c (dark figures of crime)

Question 2

What is the strain theory explanation for social class differences?

Answer 2

W/C more likely to adapt to the strain between societies goals and means by innovation while the m/c are more likely to respond ritualistically

Question 3

What is the subcultural theory explanation for social class differences?
(Miller, Cohen, Cloward + Ohlin)

Answer 3

• Miller: focal concerns of w/c youth are different
• AK Cohen: w/c more likely to suffer status frustration = turn to activities where they can achieve status
• Cloward + Ohlin: w/c have greater access to the ‘illegitimate opportunity structure’

Question 4

What is the ecological theory explanation for social class differences?
(Shaw + McKay)

Answer 4

• Shaw + McKay: w/c are attracted to the zone of transition (cheap housing)
• cultural transmission
• less likely to live in gated communities, likely to live in ‘tipped’ estates
• crime is displaced from m/c communities

Question 5

What is the labelling theory explanation for social class differences?
(Chambliss, Jock Young)

Answer 5

• Chambliss: agents of social control operate with stereotypes = likely to label w/c as c/d
• Jock Young: class may influence decision over wether to stop + arrest someone
• w/c more likely to have criminal master status = secondary deviance
• moral panics + deviancy amplification targeted at w/c

Question 6

What is the traditional marxist explanation for social class differences?
(Gordon, Box)

Answer 6

• Gordon: crime occurs in all social groups = a rational response to Capitalism
• Box: r/c creates laws in their interests = their activities not defined as criminal

Question 7

What is the new criminology explanation for social class differences?
(Hall)

Answer 7

• Hall: work suggest w/c from ethnic minorities are targeted by police, seen as the ‘scapegoat’ to direct attention away from the crisis of Capitalism
• more likely to be stopped and searched

Question 8

What is the left realism explanation for social class differences?
(Lea + Young)

Answer 8

Lea + Young: w/c more likely to suffer relative deprivation and marginalisation = subcultural responses
- w/c more likely to be the victims of crime

Question 9

What is the right realism explanation for social class differences?

Answer 9

• w/c characterised by immediate gratification + lack of respect for discipline caused by inadequate socialisation + lack of role models
• Broken windows theory = w/c more likely to live in run down areas