2.  Consensus – general agreement on values  When conflicts arise, it’s the State’s role to mediate  Conflict – general disagreement on values  State represents and is most concerned with the interests of the elite  Therefore, the elite have the power to define what is appropriate behavior  Elite are more concerned with themselves than with others ▪ Elite define what is appropriate behavior to further their self-interests ▪ Those who are not elites are more likely to be defined as criminals

3.  Cultural conflict – Sellin  Conduct norms: How people are supposed to act under certain circumstances  Norms become laws  In simple, homogenous societies laws reflect social consensus  In complex, heterogeneous societies there may be disagreement about laws  Group conflict – Vold  People form groups with others of like interest  Groups continuously try to improve their standing ▪ Achieve a kind of stasis (stable state) known as “social order”  Groups may come into conflict when their interests and purposes collide ▪ Groups try to use the C.J. system to promote their standing ▪ When groups are in conflict, member loyalty to their group increases  Groups compete for control of the State’s police power ▪ Crime is defined as the behavior of “minority power groups” that don’t have enough influence to defend their interests  Explanation does NOT extend to “impulsive, irrational acts” that aren’t related to a battle between power groups

4. Civil rights, terrorism, Vietnam and Gulf wars, economic meltdowns, political polarization http://youtu.be/pGeFPzFNkQg

5.  Variables affecting likelihood of conflict between authorities and subjects  Level of organization and sophistication ▪ Conflict more likely when subjects are organized, thus less likely to back down ▪ Conflict more likely when either group is less sophisticated, thus less able to work around the conflict  Conditions under which criminalization will occur  Offensiveness of prohibited act to the authorities  Relative power of enforcers and resisters  Likelihood that an action by either party may lead to success http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7388307n &tag=mncol;lst;3 2.5 mis.

6.  Social “segments” have common values, norms and ideology  Business, labor, women, poor people, rich people, old people, etc.  Some segments are organized (e.g., AARP), others not (e.g., the homeless)  Conduct that goes against the interests of influential segments is defined as criminal  Segments vary in their ability to protect their interests  Behavior of persons in less influential segments more likely to be labeled “criminal”  Segments promote their conceptions of what should be criminal through the media  Concepts of crime that are promoted by powerful individuals and groups tend to be accepted  Concepts of what should be crime reflect self-interest rather than the public interest

7.  Is the power of the state, as embodied in the CJ system...... a value-neutral framework where conflict can be resolved?... itself the “prize” in the perpetual conflict that defines society?  Lawmaking results from wars between interest groups  The higher a group’s economic and political position, the more likely its views will be reflected in the law  Legislative and judicial processes allow interest groups to override the public interest  Appeals court decisions reflect personal values, normally favor the wealthy  Law enforcement depends on the political process for resources – salaries, staffing, equipment, etc.  Police maximize their rewards and minimize their strain by going after the politically weak and powerless http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=61269 68n&tag=mncol;lst;3 2 mis.

8.  Stratification – vertical social distance, best measured by income  Higher a person is on this ladder the more they can invoke law and exercise its power over others  Morphology – horizontal aspect of social life  On either extreme – relations between intimates and between those isolated from each other – the law is inactive  Law most active in the middle sphere of social distance – between those who have some mutual contact and relations  Culture – law is imposed on those with less education  More law used when victim is of higher culture or educational level  Organization – corporate or organized aspect of life ▪ More law available for use by the better organized  Social control – how society responds to deviancy from the norms  More law used when non-law forms of social control are weak

9.  Minority members are more frequently arrested, and for more serious crimes. Is it bias?  Police say no:  Minority areas have more street crime  Minority areas, which have fewer resources to tackle social problems, need and demand more police services  Thus there is a greater likelihood of arresting members of minority groups  Minority members receive harsher sanctions. Is it bias?  Controlling for offense severity and record can reduce/eliminate the disparity in sentencing between minority and non-minority persons  Violent crimes happen more frequently in minority areas  BUT: Less affluent are less able to mount an effective defense ▪ Wealthier persons can retain better counsel & post bail ▪ Police Issues: Time or Money?Time or Money? http://bcove.me/9c68g46w

10.  In complex societies people’s values and interests will conflict  People act in patterns that they think benefit them and which they think are right or excusable  Group values and group power affect:  Which acts come to be defined as crimes  Extent to which group members will become violators  CJ agencies are more likely to listen to the powerful  CJ agencies are more likely to process easier cases, thus more likely to sanction the powerless and treat them more harshly  Official crime rates for groups and individuals will reflect the above http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-c1- freed-prison-20131017- dto,0,2232794.htmlstory