Chapter 6 Deviance and Crime

Chapter Outline What Is Deviance? Functionalist Perspectives on Deviance Symbolic Interactionist Perspectives on Deviance Conflict Perspectives on Deviance Postmodernist Perspectives on Deviance Crime Classifications and Statistics The Criminal Justice System Deviance and Crime in the U.S. in the Future The Global Criminal Economy

Deviance Deviance is a formal property of social situations and social structure. Deviance is conferred by audiences. Deviance is relative and it varies in its degree of seriousness.

Functionalist Perspectives Deviance is universal because it serves three important functions: Deviance clarifies rules. Deviance unites a group. Deviance promotes social change.

Merton’s Strain Theory of Deviance Mode Method Conformity Accepts culturally approved goals and pursues them through culturally approved means. Innovation Accepts culturally approved goals; adopts disapproved means to achieve them. Ritualism Abandons society’s goals; continues to conform to approved means. Retreatism Abandons approved goals and approved means to achieve them. Rebellion Challenges approved goals and approved means to achieve them.

Deviance: Functionalist Perspectives Theory Key Elements Merton Strain theory Deviance occurs when access to the approved means of reaching culturally approved goals is blocked. Cloward/ Ohlin Opportunity theory Lower-class delinquents subscribe to middleclass values they cannot attain. They form gangs to gain status and may achieve goals illegitimately.

Deviance: Symbolic Interactionist Perspectives Sutherland Differential association Deviant behavior is learned in interaction with others. Hirschi Social control and social bonding Social bonds keep people from becoming criminals. Becker Labeling theory Acts are deviant only because they have been labeled as such. Lemert Primary/secondary Secondary deviance occurs when a person accepts the “deviant” label and continues to behave in “deviant” ways.

Deviance: Conflict Perspectives Marx/Quinney Critical approach Powerful use law and the criminal justice system to protect their own interests. Daly/ Chesney-Lind Feminist approach Liberal - Women’s deviance arises from gender discrimination. Radical - Focuses on patriarchy. Socialist - Focuses on capitalism and patriarchy effects on women’s deviance.

Deviance: Postmodern Perspectives Foucault: Knowledge is power Power, knowledge, and social control are linked. Example: In prisons, methods of surveillance make prisoners think they are being watched all the time, giving officials a form of power over the inmates.

FBI Crime Clock In 1 Minute: 1 index crime every 2.7 seconds. 1 burglary every 14.9 seconds. 1 violent crime every 22 seconds. 1 car theft every 25.7 seconds. 1 assault every 34.8 seconds. 1 robbery every 60 seconds. Every 6 minutes: 1 forcible rape. Every 33 minutes: 1 murder.

Arrest Rates by Sex, 2001 Offense Men Women All offenses (except traffic) 77.5 % 22.5% Murder and manslaughter 87.5% 12.5% Robbery 89.9% 10.1% Fraud 54.6% 45.4% Larceny–theft 63.5% 36.5%

Arrest Rates by Race, 2001 Offense All offenses (except traffic) 69.5% White (Latinos/as) African American Native American Asian All offenses (except traffic) 69.5% 28.1 % 1.3 % 1.1 % Murder/ manslaughter 48.4 % 48.7 % 1.6 % Robbery 44.5 % 53.8 % 0.6 % Larceny–theft 66.1 % 31.2 % 1.2 % 1.5 % Fraud 67.7 % 31.0 % 0.7 %

Functions of Punishment Retribution - punishment should fit the crime. Social protection - restrict offenders so they can’t commit further crimes. Rehabilitation - return offenders to community as law-abiding citizens. Deterrence - reduce criminal activity through a fear of punishment.

Death Row Census, 2001 Race African American: 43% (represent only 12% of the U.S. population.) White: 55% Native American: 0.8% Asian: 0.7% Gender Male - 98.5% Female – 1.42%