Sociological explanations for ethnicity and crime Flashcards
What do Lea and Young (left realists) argue?
Differences in stats are a result of real differences in offending
Police racism is not main cause of differences as 90% of crimes are reported by the public.
Police would be selectively racist against black people but not asian people
What is a positive of Lea and Young?
Arrest rates for asians may be lower than black people not because they are less likely to offend but because police stereotype the two groups differently
Asians are seen as passive
Black seen as dangerous
What is a criticism of Lea and Young?
Stereotypes may have changed since 9/11
Police now regard asians too as dangerous
Explaining the rise in criminalisation amongst these groups
What does Gilroy (Neo marxist) argue?
Black ethnic minorities commit no more crime than others
Differences in stats are rest of racist policing as they act on racist stereotypes
Often come from former colonies where they had to resist oppression
When they resisted racism in Britain it was criminalised
What are criticisms of Gilroy?
First generation of immigrants were very law abiding
More crime is intra-ethnic so it can be seen as anti colonial
What do Hall et al argue (Neo marxists)?
There was a moral panic in the 1970s about black men and mugging.
Due to capitalism being in crisis and the powerful used this story to distract people from the problems of capitalism
So black people were not more criminal but were victims of capitalism
Leading to black men being unable to get jobs and therefore made them more likely to turn to crime.
What are criticisms of the Marxist view?
They do not explain how the moral panic was created, no evidence that capitalism was behind it.
Left realists argue that fear of mugging is not panicky but real
What is racist victimisation?
When and individual is selected as a target because of their race, ethnicity or religion.
What are racist incidents?
Any incident that is received to be racist by the victim or another person.
What are racially or religiously aggravated offences?
Assault, wounding, criminal damage and harassment, where the offender is motivated by hostility towards member of a racial or religious group.
What did statistics show about racially motivated incidents since 2018/19?
There has been a 38% reduction in racially motivated incidents since 2018/2019. Responses include community self-defence and situational crime prevention.
What is an evaluation of statistics around racially motivated incidents?
Victims experience not considered in official statistics
What is the Stephen Lawrence case study?
Black British 18 year old
Killed at bus stop in London
By group of young white men
6 suspects were arrested but not charges and a private prosecution failed to secure any convictions
What was the William Mcpherson report?
Examines the Mets Initial investigation to the case and concluded that the force was institutionally racist
Officers interviewed used offensive terms to describe black people
Canteen culture - Often a breeding ground for racial discrimination in police office private spheres
Officers did not agree that the attack on Lawrence was racially motivated.
What is the case study of George Floyd?
Arrested for suspicion of using fake 20$ bill
Force was use to detain Floyd by police officer and after 9 mins of suffocation he died
Police officers involved were fired and were given federal state convictions
Sparked world wide protests against police brutality and lack of police accountability
What is the case study of the Black Lives Matter movement?
Founded in 2013
Mission is highlighting racial inequality and discrimination experienced by black people
Followed killings of Pamela Turner, Trayvon Martin and other, where it focused more on police brutality and criminal justice reform
Recent revival due to murder of George Floyd where nationwide protests took place.
What is a synoptic link of lone parent families?
Murray
Lone parent family structure leads to inadequate socialisation, they are not taught crime is immoral
BME have high rates of lone parent families, which are usually female headed
This may explain why BME ar more likely to turn to crime.
