Topic 3- Crime And Deviance

Question 1

What do marxists believe about crime?

Answer 1

Traditional marxism sees capitalist society as divided into 2 classes, the ruling and subject class.

It is a structural theory, viewing society as a structure in which the economic base determines the shape of the superstructure.

Question 2

What is criminogenic capitalism?

Answer 2

The marxist idea that capitalism by its very nature causes crime

Question 3

How does criminogenic capitalism cause crime?

Answer 3

1) poverty- through exploitation, the subject class are poor which could lead them to crime in hopes of surviving

2) consumer goods- crime may be the only way consumers goods can be obtained, they are encouraged through capitalist advertising.

3) alienation- the lack of control over ones life, leading to frustration and aggression, leading to non-utilitarian crimes.

Question 4

What are criticisms of criminogenic capitalism?

Answer 4

Capitalism is a ‘dog eat dog’ system of ruthless competition, so crime is not confined to the w/c, there are corporate crimes.

Gordon- argues crime is a rational response to capitalism, crime is found in all social classes, but isnt shown in official stats

Question 5

Explain the state and law making?

Answer 5

Marxists argue the law and agencies of social control only benefit the ruling class.
Chambliss- the introduction of tax in east African colonies ,that had to be paid. The locals could work in the plantations instead of paying. This only fit the interests of the plantation owners

Sinder- capitalist state is still reluctant to pass laws that threaten profitability

Question 6

What is selective enforcement?

Answer 6

Although all classes commit crime, the criminal justice system have selective enforcement. The criminal justice system ignore the crimes of the powerful.
Reiman- ‘The rich get richer and the poor get prison!’- he evidenced that police focus on street crimes ans higher classes are less likely to have a crime treated as a criminal offense

Question 7

What are ideological functions of the law?

Answer 7

Laws that look like they help the w/c but actually dont.

Health and safety laws- pearce, argues that health and safety laws also benefit the ruling class, they create a false consciousness amongst workers, the laws are to keep workers working.

Question 8

What are criticisms of the marxist perspective?

Answer 8

Ignores the relationship between crime and non-class inequalities.

Not all capitalist societies have high crime rate- Japan

Left realism- ignores intra-class crime, between both w/c criminal and victim.

Question 9

What is neo-marxism?

Answer 9

It is the combination of Marxism and labelling.

Question 10

What are the similarities and differences between marxism and neo-Marxism?

Answer 10

Similarities- capitalist society is based on exploitation/ class conflict,
the state selectively enforce and make laws that criminalise the w/c,
Capitalism should be replaced by a classless society.

Differences- taylor et al- marxism is too deterministic, arguing workers are driven to commit crime out of economic necessity

Question 11

What is the anti-deterministic approach neo-marxists take?

Answer 11

They take a voluntaristic approach. Notes we all have free will, argue crime is a meaningful and people choose to commit crime.

Question 12

What is ‘A fully social theory of deviance’ presented by neo-marxists?

Answer 12

1) wider origins of the deviant act- the unequal distribution of wealth and power
2) the act itself- is it meaningful to the person or a form of rebellion to capitalism
3) the wider origins of societal reaction- who has the power to define actions as deviant
4) the immediate origins of the act- what is the context the person commits the act in
5) the immediate origins of societal reaction- reactions of the deviant, from police,family and community.
6) the effects of being labelled- how labelling affects the criminal

Question 13

What are the criticisms of neo-marxists fully social theory?

Answer 13

1) burke- argues their explanations are too general and idealistic..
2) they view criminals as robin hood type figures

Question 14

Explain white collar crimes

Answer 14

Pearce and tombs- any illegal act by a legitimate business organisation that is intended to benefit the business.

Question 15

Explain the scale and types of white collar crimes

Answer 15

Tombs- corporate crimes have enormous costs: physical( death), environmental( pollution), economic( workers, consumers).

Crimes include:
1) financial- tax evasion
2) against consumers- false labelling
3) against employees- sexual, racial
4) against environment- illegal pollution of air and water
5) state-corporate - harms committed by government

Question 16

Explain the abuse of trust

Answer 16

High status professionals occupy a position of trust, in which they abuse.

1) accountants, ernst and young, found a way wealthy clients could avoid tax
2) uk dentists have claimed pay-outs for treatments they havent done

Question 17

What is invisibility of corporate crimes?

Answer 17

1) the media- limited coverage of corporate crimes
2) the lack of political will- Home office excluded corporate crime from a crime survey
3) complex- it takes technological expertise to investigate
4) delabelling- it is filtered out and is seen as civil more than criminal
5) under reported- people feel powerless againts big companies and sometimes dont know they were w victim

Question 18

What are explanations for corporate crime?

Answer 18

1) strain- Box develops this theory from merton, argues companies cant achieve their goal on maximising profit.
2) differential association- sutherland, deviant subcultures and techniques of neutralisation.

Question 19

What are criticisms of the invisibility corporate crime?

Answer 19

Doesnt explain corporate crime without the incentive of profit, the police, army or civil services