Theoretical Approach & Social Policies for Crime Control & Prevention

Question 1

crime control/prevention - left realism

Answer 1

tough on the causes of crime

people from disadvantaged communities more likely to commit crime due to marginality and social exclusion

Question 2

crime control/prevention - left realism; how to improve clear-up rates?

Answer 2

material/cultural deprivation should be addressed

clear up rates: crimes solves, offenders caught

Question 3

crime control/prevention - left realism view on military style of policing

Answer 3

counter-productive

increases conflict with the police

Question 4

crime control/prevention - left realism; preventing crime:

Answer 4

• strengthening communities; local solutions for local problems
• police tolerant of non-white ethnic groups to build public confidence
• diverting potential offenders away from crime by decreasing social deprivation & unemployment
• intervention to support parents & young offenders (sure start children’s centre)

Question 5

crime control/prevention - criticisms of left realism

Answer 5

• treat offender as a victim
• many living in deprived communities don’t commit crime
• ignores white-collar & corporate crime

Question 6

crime control/prevention - right realism

Answer 6

tough on the criminals

Question 7

crime control/prevention - right realism; environmental crime prevention & broken window thesis

Answer 7

wilson;
broken window symbolises social disorder in neighbourhood, reflects how nobody cares about area
turns anti-social behaviour into serious crimes
police should adopt a zero tolerance policy to prevent

Question 8

crime control/prevention - right realism; routine activity theory

Answer 8

felson & clarke;
crime occurs as an everyday routine
1. a suitable target
2. no capable guardian to protect target
3. potential offender makes rational choice

Question 9

crime control/prevention - right realism; rational choice & opportunity theories

Answer 9

carnish & clarke;
potential offenders make rational choice when committing crime
weigh up benefits & costs/risks when given an opportunity for crime
opportunities for crime should be reduced & costs/risks increased

Question 10

crime control/prevention - right realism; situational crime prevention

Answer 10

crime prevented in a particular area by making crime a less attractive choice - reducing opportunities for crime
designing out crime (anti-climb paint, alcohol free zone)
target hardening (alarms, locks, CCTV)
hostile architecture (anti-homelessness spikes, ground marking by ATM)

Question 11

crime control/prevention - right realism; criticisms of situational crime prevention

Answer 11

• isn’t concerned with catching offenders
• increases inequality; poor people can’t afford these measures
• displacement theory: crime is displaced to other areas

Question 12

crime control/prevention - right realism; increased social control

Answer 12

control theory: promotes conformity over deviance through tight community control
identify those from at risk backgrounds to help predict & prevent crime

Question 13

crime control/prevention - right realism; increased social control policies

Answer 13

• issuing parenting orders to make parents supervise/socialise their children
• neighbourhood watch (informal surveillance)
• issuing criminal behaviour order & anti-social behaviour
• supervision of offenders (tags, curfew)
• zero tolerance policy
• heavier policing & more arrests
• fast-track punishment of offenders

Question 14

crime control/prevention - criticisms of right realism

Answer 14

• zero tolerance diverts police resources away from more serious crimes
• labelling theory; individuals suffer long-term consequences for minor offences
• police unfairly target certain groups (2011 london riots)
• ignores white-collar & corporate crimes
• many crimes that don’t bring any benefit

Question 15

crime control/prevention - feminism

Answer 15

focuses on the fear of crime among women of patriarchal based violence

Question 16

crime control/prevention - feminist solutions

Answer 16

• making forms of victimisation visible
• exposing extent violent against women is a mans violence issue
• recognise sexual violence by men against women is issue of male power
• male-dominated CJS fail to respond appropriately due to stereotyped views on women
• identify features of CJS that leads to further victimisation of women in rape trials

Question 17

crime control/prevention - feminism; crimes committed against women

Answer 17

• liberal feminists; improve circumstances to encourage women to report crimes, its under-represented due to unsympathetic CJS
• more crimes should be prosecuted so men realise they can’t get away with it
• street lighting, self-defence classes, rape alarms to reduce fear of crime

Question 18

crime control/prevention - feminism; crimes committed by women

Answer 18

• left realist; more supportive welfare policies & better paid jobs
• marxist; tackle social inequality as working-class females commit crimes through economic necessity
• radical feminists; women turn to crime due to responsibilities placed on them by patriarchal society
• rape crisis centres, re-socialise men to not treat women as sexual objects, expose sexual exploitations & abuse of women (slut walk)

Question 19

crime control/prevention - postmodernism

Answer 19

crime is a social construct
the law is an outdated metanarrative on how people should conduct themselves
CJS needs to recognise diversity of identities, produce more informal localised arrangements for controlling crime

Question 20

crime control/prevention - postmodernism’s solutions

Answer 20

CJS replaced by community policing, private security firms (CCTV) & informal control through family, community, school, work
justice needs to be individualised/customised due to particular circumstances that make individuals vulnerable to causing harm

Question 21

crime control/prevention - postmodernist criticisms

Answer 21

• contributes to social inequality; pays little attention to poor social group that can’t afford to establish identities so face exclusion
• informal arrangements is likely to benefit middle-class that have power/resources to get their needs attended to

Question 22

crime control/prevention - example of displacement theory

Answer 22

people who own homes install security alarms and CCTV cameras
this displaces crimes to the neighbouring council estates who do not have such measures
which is why theres high levels of crime on council owned accommodation but less on private accommodation