Introduction to Criminological Ideas Flashcards
(26 cards)
What is physiognomy?
Erroneous belief that the physical appearance of someone determines their character
What is Atavism and who was its main proponent?
Lombroso- Criminals are less evolved than the average human
What are some criticisms of Lombroso?
Charles Goring (1913)- no such thing as a criminal type
Biological- there is no ‘criminal gene’
Haq (2018)- childhood exposure to lead showed some correlation to criminal behaviour in later life
What are some issues with crime statistics?
Not all crimes are reported
Numerous sources of crime statistics
Average person reads about crime statistics in newspapers (journalistic bias)
What are some theories of punishment?
Utilitarianism- consequences determine harshness of crime (is an action justified by its outcome?)
Deontological- actions are inherently right or wrong, no exceptions
What is Durkheim’s sociological explanation of crime?
We want social solidarity (mechanical solidarity- little division in labour, organic solidarity- greater differentiation in labour)
‘Anomie’ is the gap between moral structure and what people do/believe and where this exists there is a greater likelihood of crime
What is the chicago school sociological explanation of crime?
Crime more likely to occur in socially disorganised areas
Gangs are a reaction to social disorganisation- spontaneous effect to create a society for themselves
What is Becker’s labelling theory?
Questions why certain activities are seen as criminal and others aren’t (meta-criminological approach, linked to critical criminology)
What is Marxism?
History goes through inevitable cycles
Class based theory
Crime= people’s rational response to competitiveness and unequal capitalist society
Capitalism is inherently crimogenic
Proletariat (working class) are exploited by the bourgeoisie (upper classes)
Exploitation of proletariat= frustration and crime
What is Merton’s strain theory?
Those that experience a lack of opportunity will become frustrated and are more likely to commit crime
What is the idea of ‘double deviancy’?
Women are treated twice as harshly, one for the crime and the other for breaking traditional housewife role
What are some perspectives of media as a source of crime news?
Marxist- media controlled by the bourgeoisie (unreliable)
Cohen (1972)- certain crime stories become sensationalised and create moral panics
Jewkes (2004)- media values (more likely to see certain kinds of news stories)
What are the offending rates for Black, Minority, Ethnic people compared to White offenders?
Population: 87% white, 13% BME
Offending rates: 81% white, 19% BME (Disproportionate)
Is there institutional racism?
Black offenders 44% more likely to gain custodial sentences for driving offences than white offenders
58 prisoners for every 10,000 black people compared to 12 for every 10,000 for white people
Is socio-economic status important in offending rates?
Yes
Of the prison population in the early 2000s:
72% in receipt of state benefits
48% had a history of debt
67% unemployed a week before imprisonment
Roughly how many sex crime offences are reported?
Around 15%
What are some sexual offences myths?
False rape allegations are common
Most rapes are committed by strangers
Men cannot be raped
Stranger rape is more traumatic than rape by someone known to the victim
Is selling sex illegal?
No
Unless:
The person you are purchasing from was coerced
The person you are purchasing from is working with someone
Street solicitation
What is the estimate for men that have paid for sex at some point in their life?
Estimated to be 4-10% but this figure has probably increased
What is a hate crime?
Discrimination toward someone not for personal reasons but because of what they represent (religion, race, sexual orientation, gender)
How many hate crimes were there in 2016/2017?
Roughly 80,000
What has happened with political approaches to crime and punishment/law and order?
Changed from post-war consensus about a penal-welfare approach to a punitive prison focused method under Thatcher
Roughly how many women and men will experience domestic violence in their lifetime?
1/4 women
1/8 men
What is clare’s law?
Right to request info on whether someone has a history of abuse
