Functionalist

Durkheim

POSITIVE aspects of crime

• reaffirms social boundaries- 2024 race riots, condemned by media, distinguished ‘wrong’ and ‘right’

NEGATIVE aspects of crime

• state of anomie when collective conscience weakened

CA to Durkheim - Marx

• disagree with Durkheim in that laws reflect values of society as a whole

• bourgeoisie have power to create laws that benefit them

Merton

• strain theory

• ‘American Dream’

• ‘strain to anomie’ = using illegitimate means in order to be successful

• ‘conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, rebellion’

CA to Merton - Hall et al

• Neo- Marxist

• Merton fails to recognise wider power relations in society- eg politicians/law makers

• eg Policing the Crisis study 1970s Britain

Cloward & Ohlin

• illegitimate opportunity structures

CA to Cloward & Ohlin - Heidonsohn

• feminist

• argues that C & O fail to recognise female victimisation

• women disadvantaged by criminal justice system dominated by men in patriarchal society

Venkatesh

• crime can be functional for individuals

• ‘Outlaw Capitalism’

• observed Chicago gang lifestyle, ‘Black Kings’

CA to Venkatesh - Harding

• feminist

• gangs rarely functional for women, often kept low in hierarchy, used for sexual & social capital