SOCI - CRIME PATTERNS: Social Class, Gender, Ethnicity, and Age

Social Class

Stratification based on economic, social, cultural resources.

Underclass

Socially and economically marginalized group disconnected from society.

Murray's Underclass Definition

Characterized by poverty, crime, and welfare dependency.

Wilson's Underclass Definition

Disconnected from economy due to structural and individual factors.

Offending Rates

Lower socio-economic backgrounds overrepresented in crime statistics.

2020 Custody Statistics

41% of sentenced individuals from most deprived areas.

Education and Criminality

Poorer background children more likely to be excluded.

Poverty and Criminality

Low-income households face disadvantages leading to crime.

Cultural Capital

High cultural capital correlates with lower criminal behavior.

Social Disorganisation Theory

Crime results from breakdown of social control in communities.

Zones of Transmission

Areas with high crime due to lack of cohesion.

Population Turnover

High turnover leads to instability and increased crime.

Broken Windows Theory

Visible disorder leads to increased crime and antisocial behavior.

Disorder Signals

Unrepaired disorder indicates lack of community care.

Over-Policing

Increased policing in marginalized communities due to crime assumptions.

Edgework

Seeking thrill through risky behaviors, including crime.

Structural Factors

Economic changes affecting underclass status and opportunities.

Individual Factors

Personal circumstances contributing to disconnection from society.

Social Mobility Commission Report

2017 report linking poverty to increased crime likelihood.

Joseph Rowntree Foundation Report

2020 report on low-income households and crime risks.

Collective Efficacy

Community's ability to maintain social order and cohesion.

Ethnic Heterogeneity

Diversity in population affecting community stability and crime.

WC individuals

Working-class individuals often seek status through crime.

Robin Hood theory

Criminal acts as resistance against social oppression.

Wealth redistribution

Criminal behavior aims to transfer wealth to the underprivileged.

Underclass theory

Criminality stems from a culture of poverty.

Social disorganisation theory

Crime linked to high poverty and unemployment areas.

Strain theory

Stress from social conditions leads to criminal behavior.

Cultural theory

Cultural norms increase vulnerability to victimization.

Middle class crime

Difficult to measure due to concealment of activities.

Fraud

Most common crime among middle-class individuals.

Drug offences

55% of admitted users were middle class (2019/20).

White-collar crime

Professionals commit fraud and forgery incidents.

Driving offences

Over half of phone users while driving are middle class.

Labelling theory

Middle class avoids criminal labels due to status.

Conflict theory

Power shapes criminal behavior and justice system bias.

Cultural criminology

Middle class crime normalized within their culture.

Corporate crime

Illegal actions by corporations for profit.

Libor scandal

Banks manipulated interest rates in 2017.

Victimisation rates

38.2% in deprived areas vs. 17.6% overall (2020).

ONS statistics

2019/20 violent crime victimisation rates by deprivation.

Social class and victimisation

Deprivation correlates with higher victimisation rates.

Excitement in crime

Lack of success leads to thrill-seeking criminal acts.

Marginalisation

Criminal behavior as rebellion against inequality.

Corporate Crime

Illegal actions by businesses for profit.

Grenfell Tower Fire

Disregard for safety regulations causing 72 deaths.

Tax Evasion

Estimated £35 billion loss to UK Gov in 2019.

Fraud Prosecutions

5,015 prosecutions in the UK for fraud in 2019.

FCA Enforcement Actions

157 actions against misconduct in 2020 by FCA.

Conflict Theory

Legal system protects ruling class interests.

Labelling Theory

Corporate criminals avoid stigma due to status.

Rational Choice Theory

Executives weigh rewards against risks in crime.

Male Criminality

Men accounted for 85% of convictions in 2020.

Stops and Searches

85% of stops and searches involved men in 2020.

Violence with Injury

95% of offenders were male for violence with injury.

Violence without Injury

98% of offenders were male for violence without injury.

Subcultural Theory

Delinquent subcultures influence male criminal behavior.

Crisis of Masculinity

Economic changes lead men to assert dominance through crime.

Structural Inequality

Relative deprivation drives higher male criminality.

New Right Perspective

Male crime results from individual choice and irresponsibility.

Enforcement Actions

Regulatory measures taken against financial misconduct.

Safety Regulations

Laws ensuring safety standards to prevent disasters.

Relative Deprivation

Feeling deprived compared to others in society.

Immediate Custody

Sentencing involving immediate imprisonment for offenders.

Financial Misconduct

Improper or illegal financial activities by individuals or firms.

Female Criminality

83,552 females cautioned or sentenced in 2020.

Common Female Offences

Theft and violence against the person are prevalent.

Female Prison Increase

Female prison population increased by 15% since 2010.

Domestic Abuse in Prison

57% of imprisoned females experienced domestic abuse.

Liberation Theory

Women's societal roles influence their criminal participation.

Gendered Pathways Theory

Life experiences shape women's criminal involvement.

Prostitution and Survival Theory

Women engage in prostitution due to survival needs.

Critical Race Theory

Women of color face poverty and discrimination risks.

Male Victimisation

Men are more likely victims of violent crime.

Knife Crime Victims

70% of knife crime victims were male in 2020.

Homicide Victims

72% of homicide victims were male in 2020.

Non-Sexual Violent Crimes

Men are more likely victims of assault or robbery.

Routine Activities Theory

Young men's routines increase their victimisation risk.

Masculinity Theory

Socialisation towards toughness increases young men's risks.

Intersectionality Theory

Multiple identities affect men's vulnerability to victimisation.

Labelling Theory

Labelled young men may face increased victimisation.

Female Victimisation

8% of domestic abuse victims were women in 2020.

Stalking and Harassment

20.1% of women reported experiencing stalking.

Domestic Violence Victims

81% of domestic violence victims were female.

Cyber Crime Victims

7.1% of women experienced cyber crime.

Patriarchy

Patriarchal norms normalize violence against women.

Victim Precipitation Theory

Victims may contribute to their own victimisation.

Patterns of Crime - Ethnicity

BAME individuals overrepresented in crime statistics.

Stop and Search

Police practice based on reasonable suspicion.

Subcultural Theory

Limited access to mainstream values leads to subcultures.

Structural Inequality Theory

Poverty and unemployment increase criminality rates.

Institutional Racism Theory

Structural racism leads to higher crime statistics.

Ethnicity and Victimisation

BAME individuals more likely to be crime victims.

Social Disorganisation Theory

Crime occurs more in socially disorganized areas.

Juvenile Delinquency

Criminal behavior by individuals under 18 years.

Juvenile Delinquency (JD)

Criminal behavior by individuals under 18.

Strain Theory

Merton's theory linking crime to lack of opportunities.

Social Disorganisation Theory

Crime linked to poverty and lack of cohesion.

Labelling Theory

Societal labels influence youth criminal behavior.

Differential Association Theory

Criminal behavior learned from peers.