Left Realist theories of crime

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  • Created by: jesskeayy
  • Created on: 30-05-17 15:28
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  • Left Realist theories of crime
    • Realists look at 'real' approaches of preventing crime. Sees crime as a real problem for society
    • Based on Neo-Marxism, but working on the assumption that crime is caused by inequality
      • Crime can be prevented by addressing social issues
    • YOUNG- looked at practical issues as to where crime happens/ changing social attitudes
      • Legalising drug use with clear medical supervision would prevent those that are involved in substance abuse becoming labelled as 'criminal'
        • Changing social attitudes would prevent deviants becoming marginalised
    • Crime is multifactorial, meaning that many overlapping issues create crime
    • Marginalisation
      • Poor/disadvantaged feel side-lined. People become bored whilst unemployed
        • The only way they can influence politics is by rioting/ being deviant
    • Relative Deprivation
      • Feeling poor, as you cannot afford what is deemed 'necessary' by the media
    • Subcultural membership
      • Working-class subcultures are 'anti-authority'
        • Rastafarianism- smoke cannabis as a religious expression of belief
    • LEA & YOUNG
      • To understand crime- you must take into consideration:
        • THE OFFENDER- and their personal reasons for committing crime
        • THE VICTIM- The victim decides what acts they think are criminal
        • THE PUBLIC- society condemning acts as unacceptable. THIS MAY ACT AS A DETERRENT
    • Influential in making of ASBO's, Criminal Behaviour Orders, Police Commisioners
      • Intended to make police more sensitive to victims and communities
    • CRITICISMS
      • Praised for  acknowledging victims of crime
      • Combines ideas from conflicting theories
      • Fails to explain why people from the poorest areas do not resort to crime
      • 'deprivation' is a personal feeling, people may feel deprived because they cannot afford the most expensive cars. In reality, they are still well off

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