Start: GANGSTA’s Paradise

Start: GANGSTA’s Paradise
What theories of crime do you see in the lyrics. Functionalism – strain theory – subcultural theory. Marxism – criminogenic – white collar crime – selective law enforcement. AFSTOD. Left Realism / Right Realism

Applying different approaches
Functionalism Interactionism Subcultural Theory Marxism New Criminology (AFSTOD) Realism

Functionalism Durkheim Crime is innevitable
Crime has positive functions Boundary Maintenance Change and Adaptation Warning Function Social bonds Safety Valve Merton – Strain to Anomie Five Adaptations Albert Cohen Status Frustration Cloward and Ohlin Opportunity Structures Walter Miller Focal Concerns

Labelling Theory Primary Deviance Secondary Deviance Master Status
Self-concept Self-fulfilling prophecy Deviant Career Deviant Subculture Deviance Amplification Braithwaite – Reintegrative shaming Circoural – Negotiation of Justice Jock Young – Study of Hippies Stan Cohen Folk Devils and Moral Panics

Marxist Approaches Criminogenic Capitalism
Crime fuelled by inequality, consumerism and alienation Crime is rational response to K. Found in all classes. Official statistics over represent WC crime White Collar Crime Law is selectively enforced Ideological Functions of Crime and Law New Critical Criminology AFSTOD Policing the Crises (Stuart Hall)

9. Crime control, prevention, punishment
Key questions How can we prevent crime from happening? Does our way of punishing really work? What alternatives are there to imprisonment? Key information Crime prevention policies – ‘broken window’ Punishment of crimes & the prison system

Assessment Questions Assess sociological views of crime reduction. (21) Evaluate the effectiveness of crime prevention strategies in reducing crime. (21) Do prisons work? Assess the sociological arguments surrounding punishment. (21) Assess sociological explanations of functions and forms of the punishment of offenders. (21)

Realism In pairs – create a summary diagram Causes Solutions
Right Realism Left Realism

Left Realism

It’s all about meeeeeeee!

Criticisms of New/Radical Criminology
What about me!?!?

Criticisms of New/Radical Criminology
What about me!?!? Robin Hood Ignores victims Gender-blind

AFSTOD I can’t make my mind up!?!?!?!

Left Realism: A response to Marxism
“We need practical strategies for reducing crime in the here and now, rather than waiting for a revolution and a classless socialist utopia to abolish crime.” Left realists, like Marxist, agree that structural reasons like poverty and feelings of injustice cause crime. Response to the growing influence of Right Realism

Taking crime seriously
Left realists recognise that there has been a real increase in crime rates. The best way to reduce crime is to reduce the causes of crime. Disadvantaged groups have the greatest fear of crime and it has the greatest effect on their lives. How does this differ from Right Realists?

Causes of Crime – Lea and Young (1984)
Relative Deprivation Subculture Marginalisation What do these mean?

Where have you come across this concept before
Relative Deprivation How deprived one feels in relation to others or compared with own expectations. Paradox - the more prosperous a society the higher the crime rates. Individualism fuels this. “the lethal combination is relative deprivation and individualism” Young (1999) Causes crime by encouraging the pursuit of self interest at the expense of others. Where have you come across this concept before

Who does this sound like?
Subculture Groups collective response to the problem of relative deprivation. Different groups have different responses to this problem, e.g. crime to close the deprivation gap, religion – theodicy of dispriviledge. Criminal subcultures still subscribe to values and goals of mainstream society but do not have the means to achieve them. Who does this sound like?

What would be a conventional means of expressing frustrations
Marginalisation Powerless groups who lack goals and organisation have no other means of expressing their frustration and resentment apart from criminal acts such as violence and rioting. What would be a conventional means of expressing frustrations

Jock Young and Late modernity (2002)
Deindustrialisation increased UE. Destabilised families and communities Relative Deprivation Downwards Resentment Upwards and Downwards Crime is more widespread Less public consensus on what is right and wrong Informal controls disintegrate Public less tolerant and demand harsh punishments High crime society with a low tolerance for crime.

Jock Young and Late modernity (2002)
Deindustrialisation increased UE. Destabilised families and communities Relative Deprivation Downwards Resentment Upwards and Downwards Crime is more widespread Less public consensus on what is right and wrong Informal controls disintegrate Public less tolerant and demand harsh punishments High crime society with a low tolerance for crime. Read page 97.

Jock Young and Late Modern society…why is it criminogenic?
Who lives next door? Dunno

Whose idea is this similar to?
Young uses this idea of inclusion and exclusion to describe a ‘bulimic society’ A society in which we take in the images of what we could have... and then forces us to ‘vomit’ envy and frustration when we cannot achieve these dreams (because we don’t have the money or status) Whose idea is this similar to? Ever felt ‘deprived’? Jock Young sees a contrast between these 2 factors as being responsible for increasing feelings of relative deprivation: Cultural inclusion Refers to the way in which we all have access to all that is on offer today. The media, adverts, internet etc all ensure that we all can see what is available… Economic exclusion Refers to the fact that although we can all view these things we can’t all afford them. This can lead to envy and frustration.

Activity: Left Realism Which perspectives would agree?
Relative Deprivation. Economic change and de-industrialisation. Importance of values. Lack of consensus on right and wrong. Stereotyping of underclass. Lack of political voice. Some groups feel marginalised. Increased individualism. Expression of frustration through criminal behaviour. Exclusion from economic activity. Government policies increase marginalisation. Crime is a real problem for many.

Tackling Crime – Left Realism
Policing and Control Tackle Inequalities Government Policy

Policing and Control Police depend on public to report and help solve crimes. Public lose confidence in the Police – information dries up – Military Policing methods are used (SUS) – further alienates community.

Policing and control Policing should be accountable to local communities and deal with local concerns. Routine beat patrols and SUS are ineffective. Over-police minor drug offences and under-police racist attacks. Improve relationship with locals and focus on what worries them.

Kinsey (1986) The police need to improve ‘clear-up rates’
What does ‘clear-up rates’ refer to? Crimes solved and offenders caught by Police Why might this be important for a community? Deter criminals in the future Improve community relations and confidence in the Police Encourage co-operation with the Police Kinsey suggests more community policing and time spent investigating crimes.

Pre-emptive Deterrence
The organisation of communities in an attempt to pre-empt crime is of the utmost importance. Community policing; neighbourhood watch; CCTV; designing-out crime.

Tackling Structural Causes
Causes of Crime = Inequality of opportunity, unfairness of rewards Solution = Reduce inequality and discrimination. Provide decent jobs, houses an community facilities. Tolerant of diversity.

Demarginalisation "Realists would argue for alternatives to prison", they would advocate "measures such as community service orders, victim restitution schemes, and widespread release from prison" which would stop "the severance of the moral bond with the community” “The institutions that are involved in controlling crime and criminals must epitomise justice”.

The Minimal Use of Prison
"Prisons should only be used in those circumstances where there is extreme danger to the community... Life inside should be as free and as 'normal' as possible”. Such a demand is not humanitarian idealism - it is based on the simple fact that the result of prison experience is to produce pitiful inadequates or hardened criminals.

Influence Government Policy
However, Jock Young thinks they have not gone far enough. The New Labour policies have focused more on tackling crime rather than the root causes of crime. Left realists have influenced New Labour Policies. “Tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime.” Examples: Policing of hate crimes, sexual assaults and domestic violence. ASBOs to protect vulnerable groups. New Deal for Unemployed.

Evaluation of Left Realism
Draws attention to the problem of street crime. Accepts authorities definition of crime. Fails to explain how the powerful commit crimes on the poor. Rely on quantitative data – cannot explain offenders motives. (Interactionists) Not everyone who suffers from relative deprivation becomes a criminal. Focus on inner-city makes crime appear a bigger problem than it is.

Which is LEFT, which is RIGHT?
More ethnic minority police officers Biological factors play a part in criminality Materialistic messages from the media has increased relative deprivation Charles Murray Jock Young Had more influence over policy under New Labour Economic insecurity have led to feelings of relative deprivation Conservative Rational Choice Theory CCTV Zero Tolerance Policing (more officers too) Inadequate socialisation Community service and inclusion Broken Windows New York city subway trains Poverty and Deprivation are factors Reform socialist

You the politicians … Crime Prevention
Burglary Mugging Internet Fraud Knife Crime Drug Dealing Vandalism Rioting Benefit Fraud Tax Evasion Car Theft Anti-social Behaviour Begging

What are crime prevention strategies?
How effective are they? Activity: What theory are they based on? What evidence do we have that they work? What are the problems of implementing them?

Right Realist – Crime Prevention
Situational Crime Prevention Environmental Crime Prevention Militaristic Policing Prison

Left Realist – Crime Prevention
Social & Community Crime Prevention Community Policing Non-custodial sentences

Crime control and prevention
Situational crime prevention Ron Clarke ( 1992) argues for a pre-emptive approach which targets specific crimes (petty) by altering the immediate environment of crime. As a right realist he believes target hardening and more CCTV will increase the risk of being caught and lower the rewards. Marcus Felson (1998) This approach was used with the Port Authority Bus terminal in NYC. They reshaped the environment to design out crime with large open spaces, it was successful. Problem – Displacement This approach doesn’t solve the causes of crime in the area. Often criminals find different areas, change the type of crime they commit or choose a different victim. Crime control and prevention Environmental crime prevention Wilson and Kellings argued for an approach called ‘broken window’. The term broken windows stands for various signs of disorder and lack of concern for others found in neighbourhoods. They argue that leaving broken windows unrepaired such as graffiti, begging etc sends out a signal that no one cares and can tip the area into social disorder. A way to prevent this is more police on the streets enforcing zero tolerance towards any social disorder and repairing things that are broken or deteriorating . The results This approach has found great success in NY. A ‘Clean Car Program’ was instituted on the subway in which trains with graffiti on them were taken away immediately. As a result graffiti was largely removed from the subway.

Evaluation of all policies
Social and community crime prevention A left realist approach to crime prevention it gets to the causes of crime by improving unemployment and housing. Perry pre-school project Research conducted in 1962 by David Weikart in Michigan. The project provided high-quality pre-school education to three- and four-year-old African-American children living in poverty and assessed to be at high risk of school failure. These students were given extra sessions on decision making and problem solving. Parents implemented the programme at home. The results By age 40 they had significantly fewer lifetime arrests for violent crime, property crime and drugs, while more had graduated from high school and were in employment. For every dollar spent on the programme, $17 were saved on welfare, prison and other costs. Crime control and prevention Evaluation of all policies Displacement transfers the problem elsewhere. None of the following can help reduce white collar or state crimes. Do criminals make the rational choice to commit crime? Only social and community gets to the causes of crime.

Crime Prevention The issue about why people do or do not commit crime is hotly debated. Social control or lack of controls appears to be at the heart of such debates.

Clarke 1992 – Situational Crime Prevention
Argues that we need to reduce opportunities for people to commit crime. Underpinning his theory is the idea that criminals make rational choices – they weigh up the costs of actions before they do anything. To make crime a less attractive option we need to concentrate on making it harder to commit – more home security, more CCTV, more guards on business properties etc e.g. In many public places - rest rooms are fitted with ultraviolet lights making it difficult for drug users to ‘shoot up’ etc

‘Designing-out crime’
Crime prevention strategy Reshaping an environment to reduce opportunities for crime of deviant behaviour Felson (1998) uses the example of New Yorks Port Authority bus terminal It was poorly designed and feature many opportunities for crime.

Sixty-three interventions were made at the terminal, at about the same time.
The toilets were a target for luggage thieves, drug users/dealers, rough sleepers and those seeking homosexual liaisons

Think about designing out crime...
In a clothes store Supermarket School

Designing out crime

Chaiken et al (1974) Displacement
Chaiken et al found a crackdown on subway robberies correlated with an increase in street robberies above ground. Displacement takes many forms: Spatial – moves it elsewhere Functional – makes criminals choose a different crime Target – Moves it to a different victim Tactical- Changes the method Temporal – moves it to a different time.

Evaluation of Situational Crime Prevention
Reduces certain kinds of crime. Displacement! Focus on street crimes / Ignores White Collar Crimes Assumes criminals make rational choices. (Violent crimes, crimes influenced by drugs) Ignores root causes of crime – poverty, socialisation. Not a long term strategy for crime reduction.

Environmental Crime Prevention
Wilson & Kelling 1982 Environmental crime prevention Adopt a New Right Realism approach If there is no control then crime flourishes ‘Broken Window’ thesis: If a building is left with a broken window, more will be broken. This sends out a signal that no one cares Therefore - mend the window straight away! Wilson and Kellings argued for an approach called ‘broken window’. The term broken windows stands for various signs of disorder and lack of concern for others found in neighbourhoods. They argue that leaving broken windows unrepaired such as graffiti, begging etc sends out a signal that no one cares and can tip the area into social disorder. A way to prevent this is more police on the streets enforcing zero tolerance towards any social disorder and repairing things that are broken or deteriorating .

Zero Tolerance Policing
In line with the ‘mend things straight away’ mentality. This approach means that the Police crack down hard on any areas of deviance – even when seemingly trivial Using the old saying ‘give em an inch…..and they’ll take a mile’ New York City in the 1990’s was seen as a good example of this in operation

Zero Tolerance – New York
New York Success  1. A ‘Clean Car Program’ was instituted on the subway in which trains with graffiti on them were taken away immediately. As a result graffiti was largely removed from the subway. 2. Crackdown on squeegee merchants many of whom had criminal records. 3. Between 1993 – % drop in homicide rates. However  Cause and effect? Other factors? 7,000 extra police. General decline across USA – (time of prosperity) Decline in crack Attempted murder remained high – are the paramedics better at keeping people alive?

Social and Community Crime Prevention
These are longer term strategies aimed at looking at the root causes of crime such as poverty, unemployment, poor housing etc

The Perry Pre-school Project 1960’s in Michigan (US)
The youngsters participating in the study were randomly divided into a program group, who received two years - high-quality, active learning, intellectual enrichment programme, and a no-program group, who received no preschool program. The status of the two groups was assessed annually from ages 3 to 11, at ages 14-15, at age 19, and again at age 27, on variables representing certain characteristics, abilities, attitudes, and types of performance. (LONGITUDINAL)

The Findings at Age 27 In comparison with the no-program group, the program group had : significantly higher monthly earnings at age 27 (with 29% vs. 7% earning $2,000 or more per month); significantly higher percentages of home ownership (36% vs. 13%) and second car ownership (30% vs. 13%); a significantly higher level of schooling completed (with 71% vs. 54% completing 12th grade or higher); a significantly lower percentage receiving social services at some time in the previous 10 years (59% vs. 80%); and significantly fewer arrests by age 27 (7% vs. 35% with 5 or more arrests), including significantly fewer arrests for crimes of drug making or dealing (7% vs. 25%).

Perry Preschool Results Aged 40
By age 40 they had significantly fewer lifetime arrests for violent crime, property crime and drugs, while more had graduated from high school and were in employment. For every dollar spent on the programme, $17 were saved on welfare, prison and other costs. Evaluation Root causes of crime.  Narrow focus on crime – ignores white collar crime, crimes of the powerful, state crime, environmental crime. Which have a greater effect on communities.

Essay Question Assess the effectiveness of crime prevention strategies in reducing crime. (21)

The Effectiveness of Prison
“Prison Works.” Do you agree with this statement? Yes … No …. What effect would prison have on you? What effect does the threat of prison have on you? Why send people to prison? What alternatives are there to prison?

Does Prison Work? What would Left and Right Realists say?
Definition “custodial sentencing”. The offender spends time in a prison or young offenders institute. Why do we send people to prison? Feltham Sings

How well do you think Prison achieves these aims?
Retribution Deterrence Rehabilitation Protection from Society

Four main aims of sentencing
Custodial Sentencing Four main aims of sentencing Retribution: Means society “gets it’s own back”. Many think prison achieves this better than any other method. Deterrence: Occurs if a potential offender is “put off” offending by the prospect of prison:

Custodial Sentencing Four main aims of sentencing:
3. Rehabilitation: Involves changing the offender for the better – so they will not break the law when they are released. For example, if a main cause of a person offending is a drug habit then the person will receive counselling and undertake other treatment programmes to give up the habit. 4. Protection from Society: Serious offenders such as rapists and murderers should be given a custodial sentence to keep others from being a victim of their deviance.

Custodial Sentencing Psychological effect of prison
Do you know any psychology research that has already been done into the effects of prison? What effect did the “prison” have on the participants? (prisoners & guards)

Zimbardo (1971) Stanford Prison Experiment
Aim: investigate the effects of prison on guards and prisoners. Method: ‘Mock Prison’ for 2 weeks. 22 male participants randomly allocated prisoner or guard roles. Given uniforms. Guards given instruction to maintain order. Results: Experiment had to be stopped after 6 days because of extreme behaviour. Prisoners became depressed, crying, anger. Guards showed pleasure in dehumanising the prisoners. Conclusion: Environment (situational attributions) influences behaviour rather than personalities. Evaluation of Zimbardo. What are the implications for the effectiveness of prison?

Treatment of Offenders The effectiveness of prison
Recidivism Recidivism = return to criminal activities following judicial punishment Recidivism rate is a measure of the effectiveness of punishment Does it prevent recidivism (repeat offending)? What % of people re-offend after leaving prison? Of those released from prison: 57% re-offended within two years. For young males even higher: 76% re-offend within two years.

You the judge!

Does Prison Work? YES Common sense would suggest Prison would reduce crime. Retribution Deterrent Rehabilitation Protection from society NO! Prisons are universities of crime. Low risk offenders are locked up 24/7 with other criminals. Recidivism = length of sentence has no impact on reoffending. Prison is a response to public demand but does not reduce recidivism. Prisons absorb social problems – drug abuse, mental health, poverty, marginalisation.

Has our society ‘gone soft’ on crime?

Prison population in England & Wales
Source: Morgan (2002)

Prison population in England & Wales
There are 140 people in prison per 100,000 population in E & W. 50% higher than France, Germany & Italy Double rate of most Scandinavian countries Substantially lower than US (700+/100,000) The prison population has grown steadily since 1946 Doubled since 1991 Length of sentence has also been increasing

Alternatives to Prison.
What alternatives are there to prison? How effective are they are reducing crime? What is the evidence? Read the Howard League Text. Custodial Non-custodial VS

What is the purpose of punishment?
Reduction The aim is to reduce crime by deterring others, rehabilitating offenders and incapacitation meaning taking away their ability to re-offend. This approach is instrumental as punishment is a means to an end, i.e. crime reduction. What is the purpose of punishment? Restorative This approach tries to restore things as they were by making offenders meet their victims to see the personal affect their crime has had on their lives. Retribution Meaning pay back, based on the idea that offenders deserve to be punished and society is entitled to take its revenge. This approach is expressive as it expresses societies outrage. Does Prison achieve any of these justifications?

What are the alternatives to Prison?
Prison – key facts 8.75 million people in prisons across the world. The U.S has the highest prison population compared with population The U.K has the highest prison population in Europe. What are the alternatives to Prison? Do Prisons work? Two –thirds of prisoners commit further crimes on their release from prison. (RECIDIVISM). In 1993, the UK prison population was 44,000. Today it is over 83,000. David Garland (2001) argues the USA and the UK to a lesser extent are moving into the era of mass incarceration. Punishment Do prisons work? Transcarceration means when somebody enters prison or youth offending they are more than likely to re-enter it again at some point be it with social services or mental health institutions.

Sociological perspectives on Punishment
Durkheim The function of punishment is to uphold social solidarity and reinforce shared values. It also allows people to express their outrage at rituals like trials and re-set boundaries. Traditional close knit societies had a strong sense of right and wrong so had Retributive justice as punishment was severe, cruel and public. Modern societies have Restitutive justice which like restorative justice tries to restore broken relations and offer compensation. Marxism Society is divided into two classes, ruling class exploit the working class. Marxists ask how does punishment serve the ruling class? They argue that harsh punishments are part of the Repressive State Apparatuses (RSA) which keep the working class in their place. K. Society informs the type of punishment which is linked to money. Prisoner’s ‘do time’ to pay for their crimes (repay debt to society). Panopticon A prison designed by Jeremy Bentham, its design means inmates don’t know if they are being watched. The idea of surveillance turns into self-surveillance, it becomes internalised. This move towards self surveillance and self discipline is reflected not just in prisons but all aspects of social life says Foucault. Sociological perspectives on Punishment Michel Foucault – Postmodernism Sovereign power – punishment before the 19th century was a public spectacle with hangings and stockades, its was a way of asserting the monarchs power over its citizens. Disciplinary power – punishment after 19th century was not just about governance over the body but the mind or soul, this is done through surveillance – Panopticon.

Functionalists and Punishment
Boundary maintenance Punishment upholds social solidarity It expresses society’s outrage Many justice rituals are public/were public...

In traditional society, punishment was retributive – severe and vengeful.
In modern society, because of specialisation and the different functioning instructions in society, we are all interdependent on one another. Instead of retribution, punishment is more about restitution. Restitution is about repairing the damage done by crime through compensation, and putting things back to the way they were before the crime.

Marxists and Punishment
For Marxists, punishment is a way for the bourgeoisie to maintain control over the proletariat and rule by terror. It is a part of the repressive state apparatus (ruling through force) Thompson (1977) notes how hanging and transportation to colonies in Australia were used as punishments against the lower classes – often for crimes such as theft and poaching from the upper classes.

Melossi and Pavarini (1981)
Prison reflects capitalism and production. Workers do time in return for money Criminals do time in order to pay society back Rules, strict discipline and subordination in prison mirrors work life in capitalists factories.

Marxism and Punishment
Not surprisingly Marxists link punishment to the class conflict It is used as a social control function Property crimes today still have harsher punishments than some crimes against people. There is an emphasis on working class crime at the expense of state and business crimes

Neo-Marxism The Prison Industrial Complex
Neo-Marxists like Angela Davis believe that in capitalist times like these, prisons are not merely a form of punishment, but rather a business. The term often implies a network of actors who are motivated by making profit rather than solely by punishing or rehabilitating criminals or reducing crime rates. This is because a large number of companies and services rely on prisons for business.

Michel Foucault - Postmodernism
Sovereign power – punishment before the 19th century was a public spectacle with hangings and stockades, its was a way of asserting the monarchs power over its citizens. Disciplinary power – punishment after 19th century was not just about governance over the body but the mind or soul, this is done through surveillance – Panopticon. Michel Foucault - Postmodernism Panopticon A prison designed by Jeremy Bentham, its design means inmates don’t know if they are being watched. The idea of surveillance turns into self-surveillance, it becomes internalised. This move towards self surveillance and self discipline is reflected not just in prisons but all aspects of social life says Foucault.

Foucault 1977 Writes that many modern prisons use the concept of the panopticon. This is based around a shape of a central tower with the wings spreading out from the centre like a cartwheel This shape was seen as the best to prevent escape. It was originally put forward by the philosopher Jeremy Bentham

Evaluation of Foucault
Looking at the changes in the penal system tells us something about power in society. Neglects the emotional (expressive) aspects of punishment. Exaggerates the extent of control – People can resist controls and surveillance.

Imprisonment Today As we no longer have a death penalty in the UK – imprisonment is the most severe punishment. Nearly 70% of prisoners re-offend – suggesting that rehabilitation doesn’t work in prisons Since 1980’s more people have been sent to prison as successive governments have wanted to use it as a deterrent, to punish and to protect society. UK prisons have 95% Male population – mainly young and poorly educated. Ethnic minorities are over represented Era of Mass Incarceration? Garland (2001) systematic imprisonment of whole groups of the population. Due to ‘Tough on Crime’ politics and the failed war on drugs. Downes (2001) Ideological function – imprisonment soaks up unemployment and makes K. look successful. Transcarceration – Prisoners become locked into a cycle of control. Children’s Care Home Young Offenders Institution Adult Prison Blurring of boundaries between criminal justice and welfare services.

What are the alternatives to Prison?
Play Judge for Yourself Read the Howard League Handout. Alternatives to prison were developed as a means of diverting young people away from the negative influence of prisons and the risk of self-fulfilling prophecy. Recent years – growth of community-based controls. Stan Cohen (2003) following Foucault’s ideas – net of control is over more young peoples lives. Instead of diverting young people from crime – some argue Community Orders encourage more crime.

Non Prison Punishments
Since 1997 New Labour has lived up to the election slogan of ‘tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime’

ASBO’s Antisocial Behaviour Orders were introduced in 1998
These are civil orders sought by local councils against anti social behaviours (behaviour causing distress, harassment or alarm) Only when an ASBO is breached does it become a criminal matter ASBO’s have been mainly given for vandalism, theft, abusive behaviour, harassment, begging etc.

Punishment

ABC’s Acceptable Behaviour Contracts
These are voluntary contracts usually drawn up with teenagers to try and get them to mend their ways Usually worked out with social workers, councils and the police They are a step before an ASBO

Parenting Contracts and Orders
These are aimed at parents of unruly children Contracts are the first step where they encourage parents to go to parenting classes to improve their skills Orders require parents to go to classes for up to 3 months

Curfew and Dispersal Orders
These ban youngsters from public places and can enforce them to be home indoors by 9 pm

Criticisms ASBOS can be worn as a badge of honour by some
Some see them as labelling all youngsters as trouble makers The Children Society sees curfews etc as ‘demonising’ young people and seeing them like dangerous animals needing to be locked away.

Reducing crime

Deterrence Rehabilitation Incapacitation
Does punishment work? What punishments do you think are effective? These three terms are methods of punishment as a means of crime reduction. For each, state what it is, how it reduces crime and give an example of such a technique. Deterrence Rehabilitation Incapacitation

Group Activity: Punishment
Devise a list of interventions which would be suitable under each approach to punishment . Discuss which interventions would be most suitable for each crime. Justify your choices. Imagine you are home secretary - devise three policies around crime and order which will guarantee electoral success.

Does Punishment Work? Situational crime prevention
Assess which methods of crime reduction are most effective by ranking them 1-5 – justify your reasons. Situational crime prevention Environmental crime prevention Prison Alternatives to Prison Social and community crime prevention

Anti-social Behaviour
You are politicians Burglary Mugging Internet Fraud Knife Crime Drug Dealing Vandalism Rioting Benefit Fraud Tax Evasion Car Theft Anti-social Behaviour Begging

June 2013

Assessment questions Assess sociological views of crime reduction (21)
Assess the effectiveness of methods of crime reduction (21) Do prisons work? Assess the sociological arguments surrounding punishment. (21)

2. The social distribution of crime
Key questions Do crime statistics give a true picture of crime? Are people from different age groups, classes, ethnicities and gender groups treated equally when it comes to crime? Is there any link between location and criminal activity? Key information Crime statistics – police, BCS and self-report study. Gender and crime Ethnicity and crime Age and social class Location – Environmental criminology

Many criminologists suggest there is a ‘dark figure of crime’
Detected, reported and recorded crime Many criminologists suggest there is a ‘dark figure of crime’ which is all the offences that are unreported or not recorded in the official statistics Why Crimes that occur and may not be detected, reported or recorded by official figures

Activity: Why is there a ‘dark figure of crime’?
There is no victim (speeding) Victim too afraid Can’t be bothered No trust of police Perpetrator is friend or family member Not enough time Crime too trivial Not a priority Victim withdraws charge Lack of evidence Police Recording Rules Reasons why crime is not reported Reasons why crime is not recorded

Police Recording Rules
How official statistics are compiled depends on what the police record as a crime. These rules have changed x3 in the last 10 years. Depends on Government and Police Force priorities. Official statistics only give a limited picture of the amount of crime in society.

British Crime Survey

Lack of crime reporting
Crimes may not be reported due to:- fear of reprisal. Lack of awareness (fraud). Fear it may not be taken seriously. Crime is too trivial. Official statistics Complied from government departments like the police and courts. Recorded crime A crime, which has been recorded by the police as a crime. (Only 40% of reported crime is then recorded due to discretionary powers of the police). Reported crime A crime, which the public has reported to the police. (90% of all crime the police deal with is reported to them by the public). Crime statistics Inaccurate picture of crime White collar crime dealt with administratively. Only serious crimes from incidences is recorded. Rules for counting always change. Lack of recording makes clear up rates look higher. Official crime statistics are the tip of the iceberg, BCS and self-report studies show there is more crime than what can be seen on the surface. This is known as the dark figure of crime (what is recorded vs. reported).

BCS and Self-report studies
British Crime Survey A victim study which asks people if they have been a victim of a crime and the circumstances of that crime. It was conducted every two years from then every year since. The study is based on a representative sample of adults living in private households in England and Wales. In 2002 over 36,000 surveys were conducted. Certain crimes are excluded due to low reporting such as murder, drug possession or dealing, fraud, offences against businesses. Self-report studies Anonymous questionnaires which ask respondents if they have committed a crime over the past year. They are usually based on self-completed questionnaires or interviews which contain a list of offences. Respondents are asked to highlight which they have committed. Self report studies show us that most people commit crime at some point in their lives so crime is normal. Trends and patterns BCS says 10.7 million crimes committed, OS (4.7 million. The majority of crime is property related. Violent crime accounts for 1/5 of all crime Overall crime peaked in 1995 and has declined ever since. Men aged most likely to be a victim of violence. BCS and Self-report studies BCS: includes unreported and unrecorded crime but only 75% is comparable with police statistics. Self-report: Mainly street crime (working class) excludes hidden crimes like domestic violence. Only gives a small picture of criminal activity.

Victim Surveys British Crime Survey – carried out every 2 years and asks people whether they have been a victim of crime. Pre-set structured interviews.  Large sample (2007 – 47,000) BCS report higher levels of crime. Also collects data on ‘fear of crime’ Is this valid? reliable?

BCS Vs Official Statistics.

OCJS – self report Offending, Crime and Justice Survey (OCJS) interviewed young people aged Responses taken confidentially on a computer to increase validity. Random selection, longitudinal study of around 5,000 people – study revealed much offending was linked to alcohol. Is this valid? Reliable?

Self Report Problems of self-report measures.
Unreliable answers. (people exaggerate) Biased selection of offences. (ignore middle class crimes) Biased selection of interviewees. (No access to white collar criminals)

Self-Report Studies Offender self-report surveys ask people about their offending behaviour. Questionnaire where people identify any offences they have participated in. Offending, Crime and Justice Survey (OCJS) interviewed young people aged Responses taken confidentially on a computer to increase validity. Random selection, longitudinal study of around 5,000 people.

Offenders found guilty of or cautioned for an offence by sex and type

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Start: GANGSTA’s Paradise

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