Sociological Policies

Question 1

What policy’s were based on Merton’s strain theory?

Answer 1

Merton’s strain theory provided a basis of crime control by making society more equal

• tackle poverty
• equal opportunities in school
• education in prison

Question 2

Merton’s strain theory: policies to tackle poverty

Answer 2

better welfare benefits, fair pay, job security to reduce crime by giving everyone an equal chance to gain success through legitimate ways

Question 3

Merton’s strain theory: policies for equal opportunities in school

Answer 3

treat working class pupils equally to reduce their failure rate and reduce their status frustration therefore less likely to turn to delinquent subcultures

Question 4

Merton’s strain theory: policies for education in prisons

Answer 4

allow inmates to gain skills so that they can get a better job when they get out of prison reducing the likelihood of them reoffending

Question 5

Were policies informed from Merton’s strain theory effective?

Answer 5

yes
- anti poverty policies have positive effects
- societies that spend more on welfare have fewer people in prisons
- societies with greater inequality like the USA have higher crime rates

Question 6

What policy’s came from labelling theory?

Answer 6

• decriminalisation
• diversion policies
• redintegrative shaming

Question 7

Labelling theory: Decriminalisation policies

Answer 7

decriminalise minor offences to prevent young people from being labelled and creating a self fulfilling prophecy

Question 8

Labelling theory: diversion policies

Answer 8

keep young offenders out of the justice system to avoid labelling

Question 9

Labelling theory: redintegrative shaming policies

Answer 9

Disintegrative shaming: the crime and the individual is labelled as bad - leads to self fulfilling prophecy

Redintegrative shaming: only the crime is labelled as bad - leads to reform and reduces future offending

Question 10

Are labelling theory policies effective?

Answer 10

• successful with minor offences and young offenders by avoiding labelling and reducing further offending
• less effective for more serious crimes

Question 11

What policy’s were based on Right realism?

Answer 11

Saw crime as a rational choice made by individuals

• Situational Crime Prevention
• Environmental Crime Prevention
• Penal Populism and Imprisonment

Question 12

Right realism: Situational Crime Prevention

Answer 12

target hardening to reduce opportunities for crime by increasing risks or difficulties

Question 13

Right realism: Environmental Crime Prevention

Answer 13

Based on broken window theory - disorderly neighbourhood brings more crime

Tackle all signs of disorder
Zero tolerance policing - tough stance on all types of crime

Question 14

Right realism: penal population and imprisonment

Answer 14

‘Prison works’ (1990s)
Tougher punishments to deter people from committing crime as a rational choice

Question 15

Are right realism policy’s effective?

Answer 15

• targeting hardening worked but displaced the crime to other areas and more vulnerable areas were victimised
• zero tolerance in NY reduced crime rates in 1990s
• imprisonment does not prevent reoffending, 48% re convicted after one year