Extra Crime and Deviance

Functionalism

This is a consensus theory. Laws reflect a consensus and protect everyone ie the law is applied fairly to all people. Claims crime is inevitable because not everyone is socialised properly eg deprived homes, single parent families with absent fathers, Also claims that crime is positive for society as: it unites society in outrage against criminals which strengthens the value consensus. Boundary setting shows what is rigth and wrong and acts as a deterent to crime. It provides jobs: police, prison guards, lawyers, social probation officers.

Marxism

This is a conflict theory. It explores crie in relation to social class in a a capitalist society. The poor commit crime due to poverty, material deprivation ie capitalism encourages people to consume goods - however the poor can't afford these goods and resort to stealing. Marxists claim that the law is not fair. It is created byt he ruling classto benefit themsleves - this is called selective law enforcement eg the law criminalises the poor and ignores the crime of the wealthy - this is called white collar crime or corporate crime. White collar crime includes tax evasion, fraud and money laundering. The police target the working class based on the stereotype of the typical criminal. These stereotypes are also seen in the media which demonises the poor as criminal.

This explores how crime can be linked to criminal subcultures ie gangs. These subcultures have norms and values the encourage crime. Within crimina suncultures there is peer pressure to be criminal or deviant. If members are not criminal or deviant they could be beaten up, killed or thrown out. Sub cultural theories usualy explore male gangs in deprived urban areas. The following factors can lead to criminal subcultures:

Status deprivation - some groups eg male working class or AC lack official status through a job or good income so instead they join a criminal subculture in order to gain status and identity  - through being crimina and/or violent. 

Masculinity - disadvantaged males join gangs in order to demonstrate masculinity and being tough.

Illegitamate Oppertunity - in some deprived areas there is a criminal career path - young people start with small offences then eventually move on to more serious crimes. The older criminals act as role models to teach the younger new ones.