Theoretical Approach & Social Policies for Crime Control & Prevention Flashcards
crime control/prevention - left realism
tough on the causes of crime
people from disadvantaged communities more likely to commit crime due to marginality and social exclusion
crime control/prevention - left realism; how to improve clear-up rates?
material/cultural deprivation should be addressed
clear up rates: crimes solves, offenders caught
crime control/prevention - left realism view on military style of policing
counter-productive
increases conflict with the police
crime control/prevention - left realism; preventing crime:
- strengthening communities; local solutions for local problems
- police tolerant of non-white ethnic groups to build public confidence
- diverting potential offenders away from crime by decreasing social deprivation & unemployment
- intervention to support parents & young offenders (sure start children’s centre)
crime control/prevention - criticisms of left realism
- treat offender as a victim
- many living in deprived communities don’t commit crime
- ignores white-collar & corporate crime
crime control/prevention - right realism
tough on the criminals
crime control/prevention - right realism; environmental crime prevention & broken window thesis
wilson;
broken window symbolises social disorder in neighbourhood, reflects how nobody cares about area
turns anti-social behaviour into serious crimes
police should adopt a zero tolerance policy to prevent
crime control/prevention - right realism; routine activity theory
felson & clarke; crime occurs as an everyday routine 1. a suitable target 2. no capable guardian to protect target 3. potential offender makes rational choice
crime control/prevention - right realism; rational choice & opportunity theories
carnish & clarke;
potential offenders make rational choice when committing crime
weigh up benefits & costs/risks when given an opportunity for crime
opportunities for crime should be reduced & costs/risks increased
crime control/prevention - right realism; situational crime prevention
crime prevented in a particular area by making crime a less attractive choice - reducing opportunities for crime designing out crime (anti-climb paint, alcohol free zone) target hardening (alarms, locks, CCTV) hostile architecture (anti-homelessness spikes, ground marking by ATM)
crime control/prevention - right realism; criticisms of situational crime prevention
- isn’t concerned with catching offenders
- increases inequality; poor people can’t afford these measures
- displacement theory: crime is displaced to other areas
crime control/prevention - right realism; increased social control
control theory: promotes conformity over deviance through tight community control
identify those from at risk backgrounds to help predict & prevent crime
crime control/prevention - right realism; increased social control policies
- issuing parenting orders to make parents supervise/socialise their children
- neighbourhood watch (informal surveillance)
- issuing criminal behaviour order & anti-social behaviour
- supervision of offenders (tags, curfew)
- zero tolerance policy
- heavier policing & more arrests
- fast-track punishment of offenders
crime control/prevention - criticisms of right realism
- zero tolerance diverts police resources away from more serious crimes
- labelling theory; individuals suffer long-term consequences for minor offences
- police unfairly target certain groups (2011 london riots)
- ignores white-collar & corporate crimes
- many crimes that don’t bring any benefit
crime control/prevention - feminism
focuses on the fear of crime among women of patriarchal based violence
crime control/prevention - feminist solutions
- making forms of victimisation visible
- exposing extent violent against women is a mans violence issue
- recognise sexual violence by men against women is issue of male power
- male-dominated CJS fail to respond appropriately due to stereotyped views on women
- identify features of CJS that leads to further victimisation of women in rape trials
crime control/prevention - feminism; crimes committed against women
- liberal feminists; improve circumstances to encourage women to report crimes, its under-represented due to unsympathetic CJS
- more crimes should be prosecuted so men realise they can’t get away with it
- street lighting, self-defence classes, rape alarms to reduce fear of crime
crime control/prevention - feminism; crimes committed by women
- left realist; more supportive welfare policies & better paid jobs
- marxist; tackle social inequality as working-class females commit crimes through economic necessity
- radical feminists; women turn to crime due to responsibilities placed on them by patriarchal society
- rape crisis centres, re-socialise men to not treat women as sexual objects, expose sexual exploitations & abuse of women (slut walk)
crime control/prevention - postmodernism
crime is a social construct
the law is an outdated metanarrative on how people should conduct themselves
CJS needs to recognise diversity of identities, produce more informal localised arrangements for controlling crime
crime control/prevention - postmodernism’s solutions
CJS replaced by community policing, private security firms (CCTV) & informal control through family, community, school, work
justice needs to be individualised/customised due to particular circumstances that make individuals vulnerable to causing harm
crime control/prevention - postmodernist criticisms
- contributes to social inequality; pays little attention to poor social group that can’t afford to establish identities so face exclusion
- informal arrangements is likely to benefit middle-class that have power/resources to get their needs attended to
crime control/prevention - example of displacement theory
people who own homes install security alarms and CCTV cameras
this displaces crimes to the neighbouring council estates who do not have such measures
which is why theres high levels of crime on council owned accommodation but less on private accommodation
