Zero Tolerance 10 Marker Flashcards
What is zero tolerance?
An approach of justice advocation by new right realists such as Wilson which aims to lowers the level of crime found in society by punishing all minor offences, discouraging people from committing more derisory crimes.
What is the broken window theory
Outlined by Wilson and jelling which suggests that visible signs of crime, anti-social behaviour and civil disorder create an urban environment which encourages further crime, including serious crime
What is the link to zero tolerance of the broken window theory
There’s a link between disorder and crime and therefore signs of decay (small crimes e.g vandalism) need to be discouraged by zero tolerance as it signals public disinterest causing more rapid destruction
What happens to communities where there’s small crime
Fear of crime prompts respectable community members to leave a community, undermining the communities ability to maintain order
Give an example of zero tolerance
Used in 2011 London riots where ersla nevin was sentenced to 6 months in jail for stealing water from Lidl showing a ‘tough on crime approach’
What’s a solution to these small crimes
Zero tolerance believes that prevention and deterring people from committing large crimes via tough on crime approach is easier than rescuing a crime riddled community
What does Wilson argue about zero tolerance policing?
Social disorganisation leads to crime and :: encourages zero tolerance policing.
E.g through keeping drunks, prostitutes and vandals off streets through imposing prison sentences minimising predatory street crime
Islington crime survey findings on predatory street crime?
68% of women over 55 in London are afraid to go out at night out of fear of crime (more zero tolerance crime/deterrence needed)
What does Etzoni (1975) argue to support zero tolerance?
Modern social life has pushed people away from decision making in communities (90% of judges are white middle class) and :: people believe it’s the role of the police to control crime rather than local people (communitarianism) :: increased police presence/stricter sentences is needed to deter people from crime.
Give an example of zero tolerance policing
Robocop ray mall an advocated zero tolerance policing in Britain decreasing crime by 20% in 18 months in New York.
Where have his tactics been famously used?
New York (murders fallen by 41% since 1993)
Britain
San Diego
Problem with zero tolerance policing
Resources are limited but needed in abundance for zero tolerance policing, e.g Mallan hired 7,000 more cops to pursue zero tolerance when it already had twice as many police per head than in Britain, questioning practicality
Interactionalist critic of zero tolerance policing
Often enforced by institutionally racist officers who use it in a discriminatory manner e.g EM are 7 times as likely to be stopped and searched than white counter parts ONS 2016
Why do Marxists critic zero tolerance policing?
Tombs and Whyte critisize zero tolerance policing for ignoring invisible white collar crime as increased presence on the street won’t deter real crimes like fraud or tax evasion of the fat cats
What is the cost of fraud annually to the UK
Fraud costs the UK £110 billion annually
