right realism

What do right realists believe?

Associated with Conservative Party, crime is a real problem and is a choice. Laws prevent crime and people weigh up the rewards and punishment when deciding.

Solutions to crime

Harsher punishments, segregation (keep prisoners away), deterrence (CCTV, limit rewards)

Wilson and Kelling (1982)

Broken windows thesis, visible signs of decay and neglect leads to more serious crimes. Led to NYC zero tolerance

Etzioni (1975)

Decision making has been pushed away from those who live in the communities, people believe it is the job of the police to control crime not the local people. Encouraging communitarianism will restore social control.

Wilson (1975)

Solution to crime is to emphasise social bonds and make people have strong moral values, re-moralisation

Clark et al (2003)

We should make crime less attractive by target hardening e.g CCTV, neighbourhood watch, harsher punishments, zero tolerance, keep street clear of sex workers, homeless and dealers

Strengths of right realism

Acknowledges victims and supported by functionalism.

Weaknesses of right realism

Ignores MC crime, political rather than sociological, aggressive policing can increase crime, does not explain cause of crime