AC2.3 Describe sociological theories of crime

Social structure
Interactionism
Realism

Social structure theories of criminality

Functionalism

Functionalism is a sociological theory which is defined as structural as it explores the effect of institutions on individuals. Functionalists adopt a consensus approach as they argue that institutions in society are interconnected and work together harmoniously. As a result of this, society functions smoothly.

Durkheim

The Functionalist Perspective on Crime and DevianceFunctionalist believe that crime is actually beneficial for society - for example it can improve social integration and social regulation.

Merton

Merton’s Strain Theory of DevianceArgues that crime is a result of people being socialised into expecting success but not achieving this success due to limited opportunities.

Albert Cohen

Cloward and Ohlin

Theory of differential opportunity (Cloward & Ohlin) - SozTheoThe theory of differential opportunities combines learning, subculture, anomie and social disorganization theories and expands them to include the recognition that for criminal behaviour there must also be access to illegitimate means.

Cloward and Ohlin: Illegitimate Opportunity Structures (1960) | tutor2uCloward and Ohlin sought to combine the theories of Merton and Cohen to explain the different kinds of criminal subcultures they identified in contemporary America.

Marxism

Different from functionalists, Marxists are concerned with who makes the law; the ruling class (Bourgeoisie) and who benefits from the laws (the ruling class). They believe that the purpose of most laws is to keep the proletariat (working class) in order. Marxists see people’s behavior moulded by social structure, but Marxists regard this structure as based on conflict between social classes, with social inequality as the driving force behind crime.

Classical Marxist Approaches to Crime | tutor2uMarxists argue that the economic system of capitalism itself causes crime. The whole system is based on the exploitation of the working class by the ruling class, leading to the ever-increasing wealth of one class and ever-increasing poverty of the other.

The Post Office Scandal - What would a modern day Marxist say about one of Britain's largest miscarriages of justic?

Post Office scandal: What the Horizon saga is all aboutThe background to the cases of sub-postmasters whose convictions were based on evidence from faulty IT.

The Marxist Perspective on CrimeFocuses on how crime is a ‘natural outgrowth of the capitalist system and how the criminal justice system works for the benefits of elites and against the lower social classes.

The innocent have paid a high price for the Post Office scandal. The guilty have not | Marina HydeIt was the word of hundreds of Post Office workers against a faulty computer system. Guess who was believed? says Guardian columnist Marina Hyde

Left and Right Realism

Right Realism tends to focus on the individual as being responsible for crime, arguing that we need to get tough on criminals to reduce crime.
Left Realists on the other hand are more left wing and and argue that inequality is the main cause of crime and we need more community interventions to reduce crime

Right Realism

Right Realism and Crime - History Learning SiteRight realism advocates ‘small’ government and considers the phenomenon of crime from the perspective of political conservatism. Right realism assumes it takes a more realistic view of the causes of crime and deviance. Right realists believe crime and deviance are a real social problem that requires practical solutions. It is said that right realism perpetuates …

Wilson and Herrnstein (1985)

This theory developed by Wilson and Herrnstein suggests that the reasons that individuals commit crime is because of biological differences that make some individuals more likely to commit crime. Some are more aggressive or prepared to take risks, for example. This fits in with the right realists view of crime and the need to control it though punishing and controlling behaviour.

Inadequate socialisation

Charles Murray said poor socialisation leads to crime; however, he focused on why this is more common in the ‘underclass’. He said the underclass were not always those with the lowest income, but those who acted in a certain way. Murray said the underclass were subjected to several factors which lead to crime: violence, unemployment, poverty etc. and this lead to a higher crime rate.

Murray also suggested that the increase in lone-parent families and particularly, absent fathers, led to boys turning into delinquents because of a lack of discipline.

Left realism

Surveillance theories

The Panopticon

Panopticon - Wikipedia

Historical development of the 'Panopticon'

This was a concept originally designed by Bentham that has later been developed into a more generalist term for the surveillance of individuals through surveillance - as source of disciplinary power.

What does the panopticon mean in the age of digital surveillance?The parallel between Jeremy Bentham’s panopticon and CCTV may be clear, but what happens when you step into the world of data capture?

This video provides a great explanation!

Synoptic surveillance

Synoptic Surveillance and Crime ControlThomas Mathiesen (1997) argues that control through surveillance has developed beyond Foucault’s panopticon model. The panopticon allows the few to monitor the many, but today the media increasingl…

Actuarial justice and profiling

Feely and Simon (1994) argue that a new ‘technology of power’ is emerging throughout the justice system. It differs from Foucault’s disciplinary power in three main ways:

It focuses on groups rather than individuals
It is not interested in rehabilitating offenders, but simply in preventing them from offending
It uses calculations of risk or ‘actuarial analysis’. This concept comes from the insurance industry which calculates the statistical risk of particular events happening – for example the chances of drivers having an accident.

Feely and Simon argue that this actuarial approach is increasingly used in crime control – airports for example screen passengers before they come to an airport – passengers are awarded points based on gender, age, ethnicity, criminal convictions, and the more points, the more likely you are to be stopped at customs.