Crime - Functionalist Theories

Functionalism Viewpoint:

Durkheim - Boundary Maintenence and Adaption 

Boundary Mainetenence - crime shows what is acceptable behaviour in society as the public nature of the punishments shows people what will happen for breaking the rules, very serious crimes can also lead to society coming together to condemn the perpetrators

Adaption - some social deviance in necessary to allow society to move forward and progress, he suggests that without some deviant and criminal behaviour society will will become stagnant and die

Davis/Polsky - Safety Valve

Some minor crimes can actually prevent larger crimes. E.g. Polsky suggests thsat accessing *********** can prevent more serious sexual crimes 

EVALUATION:

Marxism - ignores the…