Sociology - C&D - Social policy and crime - Left wing Flashcards
(24 cards)
What are right wing sociologists views of solutions to crime?
They emphasise the individual and the idea that people weigh up the costs and benefits. To reduce crime we need to look at ways to increase costs of crime?
What is situational crime prevention?
Right wing measures that are aimed at reducing the opportunities for crime, increasing security and surveillance increasing the change of being caught
How do right wing sociologists who look at situational crime prevention believe individuals should act?
They should take more responsibility for their welfare and homes
What are the disadvantages of situational crime prevention?
- Criticised by Felton and Clarke
- Criticised by Marxists
- Surveillance criticised by interactionists
Why do Felson and Clarke criticises SCP?
Displaces crime rather than reduces it as criminals move to areas with softer targets. Supported by Chaiken
How does Chaiken support Felson and Clarke’s criticism of SCP?
Found a crackdown on New york subway robberies displaced them to the street above
Why do Marxists criticise SCP?
It creates new social inequality amongst the poor who are often victims of crime and don’t have enough money to defend themselves against crime. It also ignores white collar, corporate and state crime
Why do interactionists criticise SCP?
Surveillance can cause stereotyping and labelling where the focus is on young males, ethnic minorities ans working class
Who thought of environmental crime prevention?
Wilson
What does environmental crime prevention link to?
Wilson and kelling broken windows theory
What message does Wilson argue that environmental deterioration sends?
that the community doesn’t care about the neighbourhood and this might attract antisocial behaviour
What do right wing sociologists feel should be done to increase ECP?
Authorities need to take more responsibility for improving local neighbourhoods and have a lot of intolerant police officers
Who conducted an experiment into broken windows theory?
Zimbardo (1960)
How did zimbardo research broken windows theory?
Left 2 identical cars in 2 neighbourhoods in USA (Bronx, high crime rate and Palo Alto, California, low crime rate) Palo Alto car was then smashed
What was the result of Zimbardo (1960) Broken windows experiment?
The car in the Bronx was attacked within ten minutes and the car in Palo Alto was untouched. After it was smashed the public started destroying it too
What are the disadvantages of ECP?
- Zero tolerance policing has been criticised as police might stereotype and discriminate people
- Difficult in inner city areas, Shaw and McKay
Why is ECP difficult in inner cities?
There is a high turnover of people moving in and out, studied by Shaw and McKay
What did Shaw and McKay find?
in inner city areas the zone of transition was the city centre with high crime rates due to many people not knowing neighbours or having a value consensus
What are the advantages of ECP?
Painter and Farrington (1992) research support
Painter and Farrington (1992)
found evidence to suggest improving street lighting reduces crime from Stoke on Trent where it reduced crime 43%
Punitive punishment
seeks to punish offenders because they deserve to be punished. Right wing sociologists favour harsh and punitive prison sentences
what is an example of punitive punishment in the USA?
“Three strikes and you are out” where after a third offence they have life with no parole, increasing the US prison population by a factor of 3
What do harsh penalties link to in punitive punishment?
Shaming criminals behaviours
What does Murray argue about punitive punishment?
prison is inevitable id the crime age is to reduce
