theoretical critique of measuring crime Flashcards
What is the Marxist view?
Ruling class create laws thatvare likely to benefit the ruling class and target the poor
How do marxists critique official statistics?
Marxists recognise the systematic bias in favour of the powerful, with the wealthiest being the least likely to be arrested, prosecuted or detected? Highlights the working class are at risk of Victimisation
How to marxists critique Victimisation surveys?
Cannot detect the victims of white collar crimes, understanding it’s importance
What do feminists say about official Statistics?
Heidensohn -They highlight the male dominance of crime
Smart- women are ignored in terms of domestic violence
In the past, attacks in the home were considered domesticated and so police were reluctant to get involved
What do feminists say about Victimisation survey?
Similar to official statistics
What do feminists think of Self-report studies?
Jones- says these studies might shed light on female offending because reasons for committing crimes are sometimes explained
What do internationalist think about official Statistics?
Sharing the view of interpretiveivists, argue that official statistics are a social construction and tell us nothing about the real level of crime
How do interpretiveivists critique os?
Believes they create negative labels on certain groups and a self fulfilling prophecy
These labels are socially constructed
How might one interpretiveivists critique os?
Howard- Becker- social groups create deviance by creating rules whose infraction (breaking) involve deviance
What do functionalists say?
Approve of official statistics, as you can build upon them and they are functional
How do functionalists critique os?
Sharing the view of positivists, accept official statistics uncritically, crediting the large sample size repetition and objectivity
What might left realists say about measuring crime?
Looking at the whole picture, Victimisation surveys used with official statistics show the real figure of crime
What do positivists say about measuring crime?
Also approve of official statistics as they are measurable and quantifiable (able to compare and analyse results) thinks social work should be treated as a science
