Right Realist Explanations Of Crime Flashcards
(13 cards)
What is rational choice theory?
It is the idea that criminals weigh up the risks and rewards of committing a crime before committing it.
The choices they make are :
The likelihood of getting caught
The severity of potential punishment
The effort required
The rewards of the crime
By changing these choices like making it harder to commit crime people will stop.
What is broken window theory?
The idea that visible signs of neglect lead to a rise of crime.
If low-level problems like vandalism, loitering, public drinking, or fare evasion are left unchecked, it creates an environment where more serious crime becomes more likely.
This is because social norms and bonds are broken leading to the area feeling low risk for criminals.
What is the socialization of the under class?
Firstly children or born into lone parent families without a father to discipline them.
Secondly this means they are not socialized properly and generous welfare benefits create a dependency for both the mother and child.
Finally this underclass is more likely to commit crimes, not because of poverty but because of a lack of moral and social development.
What is zero tolerance policing?
Zero tolerance policing means that police enforce all laws strictly, even for low-level or “quality of life” offenses like:
• Vandalism
• Fare evasion
• Public drinking
• Loitering
• Littering
• Minor drug possession
There is no discretion or leniency—any infraction gets a penalty (arrest, fine, etc.).
This aims to support broken window theory.
What is a famous example of zero tolerance policing?
New York City in the 1990s, under Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Police Commissioner William Bratton.
Police aggressively targeted small crimes (e.g. subway fare evasion, graffiti).
Supporters claim it helped dramatically reduce crime in NYC.
What is situational crime prevention?
It is a method to reduce crime by changing the immediate environment where crimes might occur.
Rather than focusing on punishing offenders or addressing long-term social causes like poverty, SCP focuses on making crimes:
• Harder to commit
• Riskier to attempt
• Less rewarding
What is target hardening?
Target hardening is a crime prevention strategy that involves strengthening the security of a potential target.
Examples include alarm systems, strong locks, security gates, cctv.
What is environmental crime prevention?
Environmental Crime Prevention is a crime prevention strategy that focuses on designing and managing physical spaces to reduce opportunities for crime and promote social order. It is based on the idea that the environment—how a space looks and functions—influences people’s behavior, including whether they commit crimes.
What does clarke talk about?
Rational choice theory
What does Wilson talk about?
Zero tolerance policing
What do Wilson and kelling talk about?
Environmental crime prevention and broken window theory
What does felson talk about?
Target hardening
What does Murray talk about?
Socialization of the underclass
