Social Class & Crime

Question 1

Theoretical Explanations for lower class criminality

Answer 1

Merton Strain theory - WC blocked from ops to legit ach goals
sub cul theories - SF & FC
marxist - Chambliss - crimogenic cap - rational response
labelling theory - Becker - selective law enforcement
left realism - lea & young - rela dep, marg & sub cul
right realism - cornish & clarke - poor soc welfare depen & lack of commun controls

Question 2

Social Construction of Stats

Answer 2

Newburn (2007) & Sunderland (1983) stats focus on blue collar/street crime = m detectable - affluent m likely to be let off than WC for street crime - white collar & corp crime not nec seen as crime

Question 3

White Collar Crime

Answer 3

committed by MC indus who abuse work positions for personal gain at expense of employs/ gov/ client

Question 4

Corporate Crime

Answer 4

offences committed by large companies / indus acting on behalf of those companies which directly benefit the company X indus & involve inc profs / survival of org
eg FIFA corruption & Panama Papers

Question 5

Why are White Collar Crimes hard to police?

Answer 5

dif to detect
hard to punish
often involve wealthy indus
may not be a vic
once caught often escape punishment

Question 6

White Collar Crime Examples

Answer 6

Croall (2001)
bribery & corruption
fiddling expenses
professional misconduct
fraud
embezzelment

Question 7

Corporate Crime Examples

Answer 7

Slapper & Tomb
paper work & non compliance crimes
environ crimes
manu offences
financial offences

Question 8

Why are White Collar & Corporate Crimes underreported?

Answer 8

crime may ben both parties involved
hard to investigate - require specialist investigators
lack of awareness that a crime has been commited - vics may blame selves for being too risky
often not labelled as a crime - not dealt w/ by CJS but instead pro bodies
higher not guilty verdict - judicial bias / stereos
Clarke (1990) & Croall (2001) hidden from view & hard to detect
Croall (2007) - victimless crime

Question 9

Strain Theory

Theorectical Explans for White Collar & Corp Crime

Answer 9

MC still face strain from rela dep & wanting things beyond what their legit means can gain - greed / debt may make turn

Question 10

Control Theory

Theorectical Explans for White Collar & Corp Crime

Answer 10

no personal victim - moral bonds = weakened see nothing wrong - encour comp w/ other business & ruthless agres can lead to crime

Question 11

Edge Work

Theorectical Explans for White Collar & Corp Crime

Answer 11

Katz (1988) it is in the person whether they commit crime - are risk taking, thrill seeking tather than in want of material gain