Criminology and Social Control: Theories, Punishments, and Inequality

What is the key question for Unit 1?

Why is social control sociologically necessary, and what forms does it take?

What problem does Hobbes identify in the 'state of nature'?

Humans would be in constant conflict without government.

What are the three causes of conflict according to Hobbes?

Competition, Fear, Glory.

What is Hobbes's solution to conflict?

Social contract, Leviathan, state monopoly on violence.

Why do 'covenants without the sword' fail according to Hobbes?

They lack the enforcement necessary to ensure compliance.

What is Peter Berger's 'society as prison' metaphor about?

It describes how society constrains individual behavior through various forms of social control.

What are the concentric circles of control identified by Berger?

Legal/Political, Morality/Custom, Occupational, Social Groups, Intimate Circle.

Which circle of control is most psychologically powerful according to Berger?

The Intimate Circle (family/friends).

What is the 'true function' of punishment according to Durkheim?

To create social solidarity.

How does punishment create social solidarity?

By reinforcing collective moral outrage and group boundaries.

What is the 'moral scandal' of mass incarceration according to Adam Gopnik?

It reflects a moral problem about societal values rather than just a practical issue.

What are the core assumptions of Classical/Rational Choice Theory?

Offenders are rational actors making cost-benefit calculations; crime occurs when benefits outweigh costs.

What conditions must be met for deterrence to work?

Punishment must be swift, certain, and proportionate; offenders must know the consequences.

What distinctive question does Travis Hirschi ask in Social Bond Theory?

Why do most people conform instead of committing crimes?

What are the four bonds in Hirschi's Social Bond Theory?

Attachment, Commitment, Involvement, Belief.

How does the Life Course Perspective relate to crime?

Successful transitions to adulthood build social bonds and restrict opportunities for antisocial behavior.

What happens to those who fail to secure the markers of adulthood?

They are more likely to persist in criminal behavior.

How do classical theory and social bond theory differ in their approach?

Classical theory focuses on rational calculations while social bond theory emphasizes social connections and conformity.

What is the key question for Unit 3?

What justifies inflicting pain on offenders and what are we trying to accomplish?

How does Hirschi's attachment bond connect to Berger's intimate circle?

Both emphasize the importance of emotional connections in controlling behavior.

What role does collective moral outrage play in punishment according to Durkheim?

It reinforces group boundaries and fosters social solidarity.

What does Gopnik's critique reveal about normalized cruelty?

It exposes underlying collective values and moral failings in society.

What does it mean that punishment is a 'collective ritual'?

It signifies shared societal values and reinforces group identity through the act of punishment.

How does Sykes's critique relate to the four philosophies of punishment?

It examines the implications of punishment philosophies on social control and justice.

What does Western's analysis say about mass imprisonment?

It disrupts normal life transitions and social bonds, leading to increased criminal behavior.

What is the core idea of retribution?

Offenders deserve to suffer for their wrongs.

What is the goal of retribution?

To balance the moral scales and achieve justice.

What principle is central to retribution?

Proportionality - punishment should fit the crime.

What does 'just deserts' mean?

The idea that individuals deserve punishment proportional to their actions.

What is the difference between retribution and revenge?

Retribution is a moral response to wrongdoing, while revenge is often personal and emotional.

What is the core idea of deterrence?

Punishment prevents future crime through fear of consequences.

What are the two types of deterrence?

Specific deterrence (deters the individual) and general deterrence (deters the public).

What is the forward-looking focus of deterrence?

It aims to prevent future harm.

What conditions make deterrence effective?

Punishment must be swift, certain, and proportionate.

What is the core idea of incapacitation?

Physical restraint prevents crime by making it impossible.

What are the two types of incapacitation?

Selective incapacitation (targeting high-rate offenders) and collective incapacitation (broad imprisonment).

How is rehabilitation defined?

Addressing root causes to change the offender.

What is the goal of rehabilitation?

To transform criminals into law-abiding citizens.

What methods are used in rehabilitation?

Treatment, education, therapy, and skills training.

What does the course definition of punishment entail?

The strategic infliction of pain for social control purposes.

What are the three levels of punishment in modern democracies?

Life (death penalty), liberty (incarceration, probation/parole), and property (fines, restitution).

What are the five deprivations identified by Gresham Sykes?

Liberty, goods and services, heterosexual relationships, autonomy, and security.

Why does Sykes focus on deprivations beyond loss of freedom?

To highlight the broader psychological and social impacts of imprisonment.

What is the 'society of captives'?

The social structure and dynamics that develop within prisons.

What are Sykes's critiques of rehabilitation?

Prison destroys social bonds, reduces adults to childlike dependence, and teaches violence.

How does prison undermine its own goals according to Sykes?

By creating more dangerous individuals and parallel social structures.

What is Intensive Supervision Probation (ISP)?

Closer monitoring of offenders in the community.

What is the surveillance paradox in ISP?

More watching leads to more violations detected.

What is the difference between a technical violation and a new crime?

A technical violation is a breach of probation terms, while a new crime is a criminal offense.

What is Bruce Western's core argument about mass imprisonment?

It is fundamentally about social inequality, affecting poor, less-educated, minority men.

What is meant by 'mass imprisonment'?

The significant increase in the number of incarcerated individuals in the U.S.

What are the two key features of Western's definition of mass imprisonment?

High rates of incarceration and demographic concentration of imprisonment.

How does the U.S. incarceration rate compare to Western Europe by 2000?

It was 5-7 times higher.

For young black men without a college education, what became more common than military service, college graduation, or marriage?

Imprisonment.

What percentage of black male high school dropouts born in the late 1960s had been to prison by their early thirties?

60%.

What does the term 'modal event' refer to in the context of imprisonment?

It indicates that imprisonment became more common than not for certain groups.

How has the threshold for incarceration changed historically?

It has been dramatically lowered, leading to more small-time offenders being imprisoned.

What is meant by 'mass imprisonment as race-making and class-making'?

It creates social groups based on race and class, affecting perceptions and experiences of individuals.

How does mass imprisonment reinforce existing social stratification?

It concentrates among poor, less-educated minorities and creates 'official criminality' as a group characteristic.

What dramatic change occurred in lifetime risk of imprisonment for men from 1979 to 1999?

It roughly doubled, particularly for those with only a high school education.

What impact does incarceration have on marriage rates?

It reduces the chances of marriage and increases the risk of divorce or separation.

How many children had a father in prison or jail by 2000?

Over 2 million children.

What does Western mean by saying mass imprisonment is 'self-defeating' for families?

It undermines family structures, removing pathways out of crime.

What is John Irwin's core insight regarding jails?

Jails serve a social function of managing 'the rabble' rather than just crime control.

Who does Irwin refer to as 'the rabble'?

Disreputable petty offenders and marginalized individuals at the bottom of the social hierarchy.

What is the primary difference between jails and prisons?

Jails hold people awaiting trial and misdemeanor offenders, while prisons hold felony offenders.

What social function do jails serve according to Irwin?

They manage social order by controlling marginalized populations.

What is James Q. Wilson's argument regarding selective incapacitation?

It identifies and incarcerates high-rate offenders to reduce crime efficiently.

What was appealing about Wilson's concept of selective incapacitation?

It promised immediate results and was palatable to both conservatives and liberals.

What unintended consequence arose from Wilson's thesis on selective incapacitation?

It contributed to mass incarceration rather than selective policies.

What ethical concerns are associated with selective incapacitation?

Using extralegal factors like age and employment to predict criminal behavior.

What does Howard Zehr advocate for in terms of justice?

A fundamental rethinking of crime and justice, rather than mere reform of existing systems.

What is the definition of crime in the retributive justice paradigm?

Crime is a violation of the state's laws.

In the retributive justice paradigm, who is considered the victim?

The state.

What is the primary focus of the retributive justice paradigm?

Lawbreaking and guilt.

What is the main goal of the retributive justice paradigm?

To establish blame and administer pain.

What question does the retributive justice paradigm ask regarding punishment?

"What punishment does the offender deserve?"

How does the restorative justice paradigm define crime?

As a violation of people and relationships.

Who are the primary parties involved in the restorative justice paradigm?

Victims and offenders.

What is the focus of the restorative justice paradigm?

Harm and needs.

What is the goal of the restorative justice paradigm?

To repair harm and make things right.

What question does the restorative justice paradigm ask to address issues?

"What can be done to make things right?"

What does Zehr mean by 'paradigm shift'?

A fundamental change in the way crime and justice are understood.

What are 'epicycles' in Zehr's framework?

Reforms that address symptoms without changing fundamental assumptions.

Provide an example of an epicycle.

Victim compensation programs that don't challenge the state-as-victim definition.

What is the Astronomy Analogy in Zehr's concepts?

It compares the Ptolemaic (earth-centered) model to the Copernican (sun-centered) model, emphasizing the need for fundamental reconception.

What does accountability in restorative justice entail?

Active repair where offenders understand the harm caused and take steps to make things right.

What does reconciliation in restorative justice mean?

Working toward satisfactory relationships without requiring intimacy or complete forgiveness.

What is the difference between retributive punishment and restorative accountability?

Retributive punishment focuses on inflicting pain, while restorative accountability emphasizes repairing harm.

How do Western's and Irwin's critiques differ from Wilson's approach?

Western and Irwin focus on social inequality, while Wilson emphasizes technical solutions for crime reduction.

What is the implication of Sykes's critique of prison?

Prison undermines its own goals and may increase future criminality.

What does Western identify as a key feature of mass imprisonment?

It reinforces social inequality.

What is the difference between specific and general deterrence?

Specific deterrence aims to deter the individual, while general deterrence aims to deter the public.

What are the four philosophies of punishment?

Retribution, Deterrence, Incapacitation, Rehabilitation.

What does Durkheim say is the real function of punishment?

To create solidarity through ritual.

What is the ISP surveillance paradox?

The paradox that surveillance intended to prevent crime can instead lead to increased criminal behavior.

What does Zehr critique about the American mass incarceration system?

He argues it is fundamentally flawed and requires a paradigm shift.

What does Sykes identify as the 'five pains' of imprisonment?

Deprivation of liberty, goods and services, heterosexual relationships, autonomy, and security.

How do Berger's concentric circles relate to Hirschi's attachment theory?

Both emphasize the importance of relationships in controlling behavior.

What is the implication of the connection between Sykes and Western's critiques?

Both highlight the destructive effects of prison on marginalized communities.