right realist theories of crime

what do realists believe about crime?

it is a real problem rather than a social construction

how do realist theorists differ from others?

others fail to offer realistic solutions so they offer practical policies

what are the beliefs of right realism?

• crime destroys communities, undermines social cohesion & threatens society’s work ethic

• focuses on practical crime control measures and veers towards punishment

what do right realists believe the causes of crime are?

• biological differences

• inadequate socialisation

• rational choice theory

what are biological differences?

Wilson & Herrnstein - certain biological traits make individuals predisposed to criminal activity e.g., aggression, low intelligence

what is inadequate socialisation?

Murray - the nuclear family can effectively socialise children - underclass

what is the underclass?

a growing amount of people who are dependent on welfare, characterised by single mothers & absent fathers

what is a criticism of Murray?

there is no evidence to support that those from lone-parent households are more likely to commit crime

what is rational choice theory?

Clarke - the decision to commit crime is a rational one base on the consequences

what does felson’s routine activity theory state there must be in order for a crime to occur?

• motivated offender

• suitable target

• absence of a capable guardian

what are criticisms of right realist explanations of crime?

• ignores wider structural causes

• overstates offender’s rationality - impulsive violence

• RTC conflicts biological theory

• over-emphasises biological factors

how do right realists believe crime should be tackled?

• make crime less attractive - reduce rewards & increase costs

• control, containment & punishment

• target hardening - more prison

• zero tolerance policy

what is zero tolerance policy?

Wilson & Kelling - maintain orderly character of neighbourhoods

• eliminate signs of deterioration

• police patrol

why might zero tolerance policy be a myth?

right realists claimed it reduced crime in NY, but the crime rate had been falling since 1985 before its introduction in 1994 - was more of a justification of police

how has right realism influenced government policy?

• UK & USA

• governments favoured reduction of welfare state

• increased prison, death penalty, ‘short sharp shock’

• e.g., Margaret Thatcher