Class, power and crime

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  • Created by: evekav
  • Created on: 04-03-22 10:43
How do functionalists see the law and crime?
Law-as a reflection of society's shared values.
Crime-product of inadequate socialisation into these values.
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What does Miller argue the lower class has developed and what is its impact?
Developed an independent subculture that clashes with mainstream culture - explains lower class higher crime rate.
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What kind of theory is marxism?
Structural - sees society as a structure where the economic base determines the shape of the superstructure.
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What are the three main elements of the marxist view of crime?
*Criminogenic capitalism
*State and law making
*Ideological functions of crime and law
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What does criminogenic mean?
Crime is inevitable in a capitalist society and all social classes are committing crime.
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How does the damage of capitalism of the WC lead to a rise in crime?
*Poverty - crime may be the only way to survive.
*Consumer goods - crime may only be the way to obtain these.
*Alienation/lack of control - may lead to frustration/aggression = non-utilitarian crimes.
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What does Gordon argue about crime and capitalism?
Crime is a rational response to capitalism and therefore found in all social classes.
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What does Chambliss argue about law making?
That the criminal justice system disproportionately focuses on the actions of the proletariat in order to control their actions.
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What does Snider about the capitalist state and law making?
They are reluctant to pass laws that regulate activities of businesses and profitability.
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What is selective law enforcement?
Law enforcements tend to ignore the crimes of the powerful and instead criminalising working classes and minorities.
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How does Pearce argue laws that seem to help WC also benefit the ruling class?
Keeps workers fit for work eg safety laws
Gives capitalism a 'caring face' which creates a false consciousness among workers.
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How is the blame of WC problems shifted from capitalism?
Workers are encouraged to blame criminals rather than capitalism.
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How is the marxist approach criticised?
*Ignores non-class inequalities eg gender
*too deterministic and over predicts the crime of WC
*Capitalist societies do not all have high crime rates
*Capitalist class is sometimes accountable
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How does Taylor et al agree with marxists?
*Capitalist society is based on exploitation and class conflict.
*State makes and enforces laws in the interest of capitalist class.
*Capitalism should be replaced by a classless society.
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What view does Taylor et al take and why?
HINT deterministic or voluntaristic?
Voluntaristic - sees crime as meaningful action and a choice by the actor.
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What 6 aspects does a theory of deviance need to unite according to Taylor et al?
1. Wider origins of the deviant act
2. Immediate origins of the deviant act
3. The act itself
4. Immediate origins of social reaction
5. Wider origins of social reaction
6. Effects of labelling
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Evaluation of Taylor et al (critical criminology)
*Feminists say it is 'gender blind'
*Left realists say it romanticises WC criminals as fighting capitalism when crime usually targets the poor + Taylor ignores WC victims
*Burke says it is too general and idealistic
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What is white collar crime?
A crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of his occupation.
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What is occupational crime?
Committed by employees for their own personal gain, often against their employer.
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What is corporate crime?
Committed by employees for their organisation in pursuit of its goals.
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What does Tombs note the cost of corporate crime is, in terms of its effect?
Physical - death/injury
Environmental - pollution
Economic - to consumers, workers, taxpayers...
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What are some examples of corporate crime?
*Financial crimes
*Crimes against consumers
*Crimes against employees
*Crimes against environment
*State-corporate crimes
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Give an example of 'crimes against consumers'.
Poly implant Prothese - women told to have their breast implants removed if done by that company as they were filled with dangerous industrial silicone rather than the more expensive medical silicone.
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Give an example of 'crimes against the environment'.
Volkswagen - installed software in 11 million of its diesel vehicles, it could detect when the engines were being tested and disguised emission levels that were 40x above the US legal limit.
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Give an example of 'state-corporate crimes'.
Private companies contracted the US military have been accused of involvement in torture of detainees during the American occupation of Iraq.
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Explain the abuse of trust.
High status professions are entrusted with personal info and finances, this can all be used in a criminal way eg lawyers can be paid off to use information illegally.
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Explain the case of GP Harold Shipman
In 1976 he had been convicted of illegally obtaining enough morphine to kill 360 people but let off with a warning and allowed to continue practicing.
In 2000 he was convicted of murder of 15 patients (believed to be more near 200)
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How are the crimes of the powerful not seen as much as street crimes?
*The media - reinforce stereotype crime is mainly WC
*Corporate crime is hard to tackle so politicians focus on street crime
*Understaffed, under-resourced to tackle powerful crime
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How are the crimes of the powerful not seen as much as street crimes? continued
*De-labelling - corporate crime is seen differently to street crimes eg civil vs criminal
*Under-reporting - individuals may be unaware they have been victimised even if they do they might not see it as 'real crime' or see themselves powerless against big
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What does Box argue causes a company to turn to crime?
If they cannot achieve its goal of maximising profits by legal means it may employ illegal ones instead.
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What did Clinard and Yeager find about law violations and large companies?
As their financial performance deteriorated, more law violations occured.
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Where did Sutherland see crime being learned from?
From others in a social context - the more we associate with people with criminal attitudes, the more deviant we become.
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What did Geis find about companies enabling illegal activities?
Individuals joining companies, where illegal price-fixing was practised became involved as part of their socialisation.
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What are deviant subcultures?
Groups who share a set of norms and values at odds with wider society, they offer deviant solutions to their members' shared problems.
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What did Skyes and Matza argue about 'techniques of neutralisation'?
Individuals can deviate more easily if they can produce justifications to neutralise objections to their misbehaviour.
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What did Cicourel say about the MC and labelling?
The MC are more able to negotiate non-criminal labels for their misbehaviour eg 'youthful high spirits' rather than vandalism.
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How are white collar/corporate crimes 'de-labelled'?
They can afford expensive experts to help them avoid activities they are involved in or to get the serious charged reduced.
Law enforcement unlikely/unable to investigate or prosecute = minimal offences officially recorded.
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What does Box claim capitalism has created?
A 'mystification' - it has spread ideology that corporate crime is less widespread/harmful than WC crime.
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How does Box combine Marxist to other approaches like strain theory?
Sees corporations as criminogenic as if legitimate opportunities for profit are blocked they will resort to illegal techniques.
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How are explanations of corporate crime criticised?
*Nelken - unrealistic to assume all businesses offend if it wasn't punishable.
*Pursuit of profit doesn't explain crimes of non-profit agencies.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What does Miller argue the lower class has developed and what is its impact?

Back

Developed an independent subculture that clashes with mainstream culture - explains lower class higher crime rate.

Card 3

Front

What kind of theory is marxism?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What are the three main elements of the marxist view of crime?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What does criminogenic mean?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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