Topic 3 - Explaining class differences

Sees law as reflection of society's shared values, + crime as product of inadequate/inappropriate socialisation into values. Modern societies, complex DOL, diff groups + classes may develop own separate subcultures.

Eg Miller argues lower class developed independent subculture w/ own distinctive norms + values that clash w/ those of mainstream culture, explains why lower class have higher crime rate.

Argues people engage in deviant behaviour when opps to achieve legitimate ways blocked. 

W/c more likley to be denied legit opps to achieve success, so more likely to seek illegit means of achieving - 'innovation' (Merton): use of 'new' deviant means to gain wealth - explains why w/c higher utilitarian crime rate than m/c.

Start from Merton's ide w/c suffer from blocked opps to achieve succes by legit means. 

Cohen sees w/c ouths as culturally deprived -> lack means to achieve in ed + find themselves at bottom of official status hierarchy. Failure to achieve -> status frustration.

Delinquent subculture they form/join solution to status frustration. By inverting mainstream values eg respect for property, w/c youths gain status from peers. Explains why w/c higher rate utilitarian crime. 

Cloward + Ohlin build on Merton + Cohen. Use concept of illegitimate opp structures to explain why range of diff crimes more prevalent w/in w/c. Identify criminal subculture in stable w/c neighbourhoods that offers professional criminal career opps.

Described as 'probelm makers'. Don't see official stats as valid social facts or as useful resource - topic whose construction must investigate by studying power of control agents to label w/c people as criminal.