Evaluate the view that Realist approaches offer an adequate solution to the problem of Crime (30)

Introduction

-RR= focus on crime representing a real problem

-Criticise other theories; cares more for criminal than victim, also ignores effects on the V

-As such, RR focus on actions of the crime to actively reduce it

-They want practical solutions; benefit the real victim of crime

Criminal Behaviour is determined biologically

popular assumptions include:

-criminal having lower intelligence levels

-increased aggression

-happier to take risks

Evaluation: Is useful in suggesting natural reasoning for C&D

Criticism:

-(Lilly el al) only 3% criminals found to have reduced intelligence measurement

Different explanation; insight of the underclass; inadequate socialisation

(Charles Murray) view's lone parent, matrifocal families=failed to actively socialise acceptance

-mainstream norms are undermined; less respect for other property

- believes Primary Socialisation damaged; common decency threatened & criminality/Deviancy by-product of break down of socialisation

Evaluation:

-lack of respect for property explains utilitarian crime

Criticism:

-but, there is also explanation of violence crime; absent fathers= further break down in socialisation

-(Cloward & Ohlin) subcultural theory; find male-role models in gangs

-conflict subcultures focused on conflict and violence normally due to territory

Final Explanation RR; Rational Choice

-Criminals intelligent, can weigh up gains vs loss & cost vs loss

-have free will to commit criminal act of any kind

-Internal criticism:

assumes criminal to be more intelligent than first thought

-contradictory opinions; while RR argue crime decided biologically, on other hand assuming criminals decide themselves

-seems flawed at base level

Solutions offered by both RR & LR that no other theory's offer

Right Realists:

-(Kelling & Wilson) "Zero Tolerance" policy,

e.g. disrespect to property, such as Vandalism is cleaned up asap; not allow neighbourhood to fall into state of despair & become hub of crime

-Secondly, Target hardening; make cost higher and reward lower for those utilising rational choice

e.g. placing guardian at potential target, installing security cameras/alarms at a potential target

making visible such measures are in line

Criticisms of RR:

-Ignore structural factors; poverty

-only concern themselves with street; foolish m/c crime are above average; corporate crime more harmful than simple theft

-finally, over-emphasise control of neighbourhoods forgetting have in some cases declined drastically

Left Realist, as their name sit on opposite side of the fence, with similar viewpoint

-LR similar to Marxist in many ways;

believe capitalist system is unfair

-But, believe gradual reform is healthier than collective revolution

-Marxist believe future rev will end all crime, although LR not naïve to wait; want reduction contemporarily

who do they criticise?

-traditional Marxists for concentrating too much on crimes of powerful & ignoring W/C

-Neo-Marxist for romanticising working class crime as latter day "Robin hoods" - using crime for political motive to redistribute the wealth more fairly

-Labelling theories;for seeing criminals as the victims of crime and ignoring the effects on the real victim

Cause 1- Relative Deprivation; Lea & Young

-Point out comparison of wealth among society has caused people to feel relatively deprived

;people tend to compare their economic situation to other, feel sense of injustice and resentment

-Increasing Media popularity & Advertising industry contributes massively; wealth and material possessions exposed; some cannot access

-Yong states: we are now in a "Bulimic society"; presented daily with expensive lifestyles plus goods to go alongside that

results= causes breakdown of family, with individual rights in question to undermining selflessness

people become selfish plus greedy= informal social control becomes weak

If this agent weak= creates anti-social behaviour plus aggression which eventually leads to crime

Evaluation: Therefore, start to see the spiral and chain of causes that lead to crime

-RL biological assumption can be linked to aggression. But this explanation centre point to other explanations

Criticisms:

-many feel relatively deprived; not everyone will turn to crime

-LR fail to explain this factor thus not acknowledge why only some commit crime

Cause 2-Marginalisation

-Drawing on idea of relative dep; those who are economically, socially & politically deprived= marginalised from society

-They cast out plus isolated & lack any kind of decision making; do not and cannot

Example=(Gibbs & Merigti) Black community, marginalised due poverty/housing/education

not treated equally, causes anger & frustration

-thus, can be applied to w/c also as live in poverty plus lack job opportunities may lead to crime

Cause 3- Subcultures

-Develop amongst those who endure the processes of RD & Marg

-form or join subcultures; as protest against society as so used crime to do so

-usually exist amongst young people and ethnic minorities

-Those who are participated still adhere to societies goals although, lack of legitimate means to achieve them

Link=(Merton & Cloward & Ohlin) studies; agree w/c have blocked opps; causes them to illegal means to achieve their subculture

Evaluation= LR, therefore recognise both individual & group responses to crime

Contrast= subcultures promote level of value consensus which may not be possible legitimately

form a shared sense of unity and belief

Criticism:

-therefore are optimistic about way in which people react

-may not even turn to crime; those who are marginalised often fall into other situations

depression or alcoholism or even religion

Solution - Redistribution of Resources

-TO TACKLE CRIME LONG-TERM MUST GET RID OF INEQUALITIES THAT CAUSE CRIMINAL CYCLES

-make the gap between rich and poor smaller which will reduce relative dep; not be marginalised or form subcultures

-Multi-Agency approach; police cannot tackle crime on its own

-we must improve community relations, by improving housing, offering solutions to inner city areas; tackle crime of individualism

-Community policing with ethnic minority police officers; offer people role model, steer away from crime plus lower anger/frustration

if stronger sense of community, less opportunity people less likely to commit crime

-New Labour Gov= influenced by LR, 'Though on crime, though on its causes'

;acknowledged causes of crime need to be tackled from which policies will be put in place

-Implemented 'The New Deal' for unemployed youths & anti-truancy policies that will tackle plus reverse exclusion, reducing crime

Criticism= (Young) argues against these policies

; will not work; trying to create Golden Age, brushing over real issues & hold idealistic view

community not enforced & causes still issues prominent

Marxist criticism of LR & Law enforcement

However, Marxists criticise the Left Realists for assuming the Police aren't acting in the interests of Capitalism which undermines one of their two ways of providing a solution for crime, and they are also criticised for accepting the authorities' definition of crime as being the street crimes of the poor and ignoring the harm done to the poor by the powerful. Marxists point out that they, like Right Realists, ignore corporate crime

-do not want to punish 'their own kind'

-(Chambliss) LE sources; interests of Capitalism classes & uses example of East African colonies under British control

-people had to pay tax in cash which forced them to join the lab our force; needed their work on plantations

Evaluation= prime example of Bourgeois committing crime, m/c rarely reported or recorded

-LR focus on inner city crime, ignore crime stratification and power; offer a wholistic view

; official statistics as face value making not so useful

Postmodernism News/ Contemporary issues

-Officer communications; street crime are recorded; (Sara Thornthan) power not used adequately

-(Babu) much more needs to be done; young people holding weapons

Knife crime Sommet; knife crime in in London

current political tension area; islamophobia

-acid attacks, although can be due to other reasons of conflict subcultures, need to be tackled more efficiently

Evaluation: RR useful in terms of emphasising street crime, although LR are the ones providing solution to tackle the high rise effectively

Conclusion

Both theories are quite powerful and are noble in their attempts to solve crime, but the fact that they're concerned with crime that happens on a much larger scale numerically although not necessarily in severity does, in my opinion, outweigh their lack of an explanation for white collar crime in all it's forms. It seems odd that the realists would ignore another form of crime when their main concern is the reality of crime and it's effects on the victims. In any case, Right Realists do offer an adequate solution to some crime, however I believe only the Reducing Inequality section of the Left Realist approach provides a viable solution to some crime. My use of the word some is important here, as I recognise that they do ignore a large majority of other kinds of crime.

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