Marxism/neo-marxism & Crime

Pearce - ideological

• Laws are ideological as they appear to benefit the WC but create a ‘friendly’ face to capitalism, aiding false class consciousness

• E.g. health and safety laws → look like they are there to protect you, but keep you working in a capitalist system etc. 

Box - Selective law enforcement

• i.e. only male, working class, black people arrested, patrolled etc,, not bourgeoisie

• Mystification occurs, where an ideology is spread by the ruling class which gives the impression that ruling class crime is less widespread and less harmful than working class, street crime

• Working class become criminalised, makes them look evil, allowing working class to get away with crimes as law enforcement is so focused on the WC. Justifies need for their control.

Gordon - Crime as a working class problem

• Crime is seen as a WC problem, justifies the need for strong police force an controls on the ‘out-of-control’, criminal working class

• Crime distracts society from the misdeeds of the ruling class

• Crime is also a rational response → sometimes only option (e.g. shoplifting for food)

Tombs - Corporate crime

• Powerful corporations can influence the law so that their actions are not criminalised

• Corporate crime has enormous costs: Physical (deaths, injuries and illnesses), Environmental (pollution), Economic (to consumers, workers, governments and the taxpayer)

• Corporate crime is ‘widespread, routine and pervasive’

Chambliss: organised crime

• Study in Seattle, found most organised crime was controlled by an elite, small group (IIncl. Police), not WC

• Police spent time dealing with minor offences of the working class rather than the ruling class

• Ruling class get away with it, police and courts much more focused on WC, justifying their control

Sutherland: White collar crime

• This is a crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of his occupation e.g. stealing from company/customers, tax evasion

• More opportunities to offend at higher end of occupational hierarchy (more power), less obvious crime, victimisation is indirect and invisible (don’t directly see the impact)

• Few cases are taken to court → selective?

E.g. of white collar crime - Bhopal

• Pesticide plant released a massive cloud of toxic gas into the atmosphere in Bhopal, India

• Resulted in many deaths immediately as well as illnesses long-term

• 8 people only got a 2 year sentence as a result

Marxism Criticisms

• Ignores trends surrounding victims (most are WC)

• Some laws are for the bourgeoisie (e.g. drink driving)

• Communist countries still have crime 

• But does provide solution to working class crime (getting rid of capitalism)

Gilroy (NM - Ethnicity)

Black WC crime , particularly in the 1970s, was a form of political resistance against a repressive, racist state. 

Taylor, Walton & Young (NM - Fully Social Deviance)

• Criminals choose to break the law as a response to capitalism. WC criminals are making a political statement, in response to their powerless position

• We need to explain crime/deviance by looking at the full picture, not just blame capitalism e.g. looking at both wealth distribution (i.e. capitalism) but also the meaning of a deviant act (why, intention)

• This is a combination approach looking at micro and macro factors