Topic 4 - patterns of social crime Flashcards
Introduction?
Crime conviction data shows that criminals are typically young, male, and working-class. Sociologists debate whether this reflects reality or results from social stereotyping. Historically, crime has been linked to social class, with a common perception that dangerous criminals come from working-class backgrounds.
Marxists argue that laws are created by the wealthy, reinforcing class-based criminality.
Functionalists believe the link between crime and class reflects real social conditions.
Interactionists suggest crime is perceived as working-class due to small-scale social processes.
Understanding crime patterns requires empirical data, which indicates a connection between class and crime.
Official statistics, social class, and crime?
In the UK, there is limited official data on the social background of those convicted of crime, as people are less aware of social class than before. Classifying individuals by social class is complex, and the 2010 British Social Attitudes Survey shows that people need prompting to identify their class. Traditionally, sociologists defined class based on occupation, often linked to the nearest working relative, but this approach is less effective in post-industrial Britain, where class affiliations are more fluid.
Poverty and crime
Recent research explores the link between poverty, social class, and crime. Working-class individuals earn less and are more likely to be convicted, though this is often based on impressions rather than hard data. Studies suggest that poverty, poor housing, and social environments, along with limited community control, contribute to criminal behavior. Research on young people and neighborhoods also shows a connection to social class, as areas can be classified by property prices and school quality.
Studies like those from Pat Carlen (1988) highlight poverty as common among incarcerated women, but the relationship between class and crime remains complex. While working-class people are more often convicted, they may not necessarily engage in more crime. For example, studies in the 1960s found a disparity between self-reported delinquency and official convictions, with fewer lower-class individuals reporting crime.
Webster and Kingston (2014) found conflicting results in studies on poverty and crime. Some studies from the 1990s-2000s show no link between income and offending, suggesting that conviction rates, not crime rates, are class-dependent. However, recent research highlights a link between poverty and violence, with structural factors like family dynamics playing a role. The New Right perspective ties crime to benefit dependency, viewing it as criminogenic, while Webster and Kingston argue that inequality within society is key to understanding the link between class and crime.
2002 social exclusion unit
The 2002 Social Exclusion Unit report highlighted that prisoners were more likely than the general population to have experienced: being in care, truancy, school exclusion, long-term unemployment, coming from benefit-dependent households, and having mental health or substance abuse issues. Many of these factors correlate with social class, especially among the working class. The government identified these as signs of social exclusion and underclass membership. Data from the Home Office (2001) showed about 1 million active offenders in the UK, with 100,000 being persistent offenders sharing similar characteristics to those in the SEU report. In response, the government’s 2004-2008 strategic plan aimed to address income, education, and parenting issues, without directly mentioning class.
Types of middle-class crime?
Middle-class crime differs from working-class crime, as middle-class individuals often engage in workplace-related crimes, such as white-collar crime (e.g., fraud, expense claims). While fewer middle-class criminals are identified by the legal system, this does not mean such crimes don’t occur. These crimes are less likely to be recorded due to factors like unawareness of victims, companies avoiding public prosecution, the complexity of financial laws, and the crimes’ absence in official statistics.
Research by Karsted and Farrall (2003) found that 34% of respondents in England and Wales avoided taxes, and 3% misclaimed welfare benefits. In 2006, 70% of the middle class admitted to fraud or “fiddling,” compared to 52% of lower social groups.
Social class and victimisation data
The British Crime Survey (2010-2011) found that poorer households were more likely to be burgled, with burglary being more common in deprived areas. The poor and unemployed were also twice as likely to be victims of violent crime and more fearful of becoming victims. A 2003 Guardian report found that 24% of people, despite knowing prisoners, would still commit crimes for financial gain if they thought they wouldn’t be caught. Additionally, 74% of people in lower social classes believed crime should be punished harshly, with little focus on rehabilitation.
Theories of class and crime?
Marxists view crime as a response to capitalism, with the working class using it to resist and redistribute wealth. Functionalists link crime to poor socialization in the working class. Interactionists argue that the poor are more likely to be labeled as criminals.
