Differential enforcement of the law

Question 1

How is moral panic an example?

Answer 1

In the 2011 riots, people received custodial sentences for committing minor offences
Courts imposed more severe sentences on youths convicted of offences during the moral panic over mods and rockers

Question 2

How is typification an example?

Answer 2

Chambliss studied the middle class ‘Saints’ and the working class ‘Roughnecks’
While both groups committed offences, the police enforced the law more strictly against the roughnecks

Question 3

What did Cicourel argue in terms of typification?

Answer 3

Cicourel argues that the police are more likely to regard working class rather than middle class individuals with suspicion which results in more arrests

Question 4

What did Piliavin and Briar find in terms of typification?

Answer 4

‘situational factors’ play a huge role in police officers’ decisions to stop or arrest a person
These include the individual’s class, ethnicity, age, attitude towards the officer