Topic 7b: Right Realist Solutions to Crime

Question 1

Intro

Answer 1

During the 1980’s Marxist and interactionist approaches were criticized for ignoring the fact that crime was actually a problem for many people and that crime rates were increasing. This lead to the creation of realist approaches. Right Realism is influenced by right-wing Conservative thinking. Right Realists emphasise the individual – they note that people choose to commit crime because the benefits of crime outweigh the costs. Society therefore needs to look at ways of increasing the costs of crime.

Question 2

Conclusion

Answer 2

Jones is also critical of the work of Wilson and right realist solutions in general. He argues that he ignores issues of class, ethnicity and gender, fail to consider the role of inequality and unemployment in causing crime, and neglect white-collar and corporate crimes (many of which can be very harmful). He points out that, in the USA, elements of a right realist approach have been adopted. However, despite such measures and a rapid increase in levels of imprisonment, the crime rate has risen inexorably in the USA.