Marxist Perspective Flashcards
(9 cards)
What do Marxists refer to capitalism as?
Criminogenic.
The class divide means the working class have to commit crime in order to survive.
What did Gordon say?
Gordon suggested it was not surprising that the working class committed crime, but that they did not commit more of it.
What is law enforcement in society?
Selective.
Selective law enforcement is present in society as the CJS focus on policing and punishing the marginalized, not the wealthy.
What does Reiman suggest?
Reiman suggests that crime of the powerful is much less likely to be treated as a criminal offence and prosecuted
What is law making in society?
Selective.
Selective law making is present as the law is made and influenced by the interests of the capitalist elite.
What does Chambliss argue?
Chambliss argues there is one law for the rich, and one law for the poor.
What does Snider state?
Snider states that capitalist states are unlikely to pass laws that regulate capitalist concerns.
What are the ideological functions of crime?
The ideological functions of crime is the process by which the working class are divided as they see criminals as their problem, not capitalism, which according to Pearce benefits capitalism as it created a false consciousness.
What are the criticisms of the Marxist perspective?
- Over-emphasizes property crime.
- Feminists argue it focuses mainly on male crime.
- Over-emphasizes class inequality.
- Over-deterministic - assumes people commit crime because of factors outside their control.
- Ignores victims - Left realists point out working class crime is usually committed against others in working class.
