Critical Criminology

Central Themes of Critical Criminology

Inequality and Power
The politics of crime
The criminal justice system serves interests of capitalism
Capitalism is root cause of criminal behavior
Equity in society is the solution to crime

Central Theme: Inequality and Power

Critical criminology builds on the work of Karl Marx, who believed that capitalism creates wide economic gaps—thus producing differences in social classes.
These differences can speak to the differential power associated with each class that is legitimated by the laws and the criminal justice system

Central Theme: The politics of crime

Crime is not entirely based on values and mores and not equally applied to all.
The harmful acts of the powerless and poor are sure to be punished, however, those acts of the rich and powerful may or may not

Central Theme: The interests of capitalism

“the rich get richer and the poor get prison”
The system is designed to protect the interests of the elite (i.e., the rich and even those working within the system they have power)

Central Theme: Capitalism Causes Crime

A capitalist society ignores the needs of the poor
There is a lack of consideration of basic needs regarding healthcare, education, living conditions, living wages—thus making crime a rational choice for many
On the other hand, overemphasis of the crimes of the poor creates more opportunity for corporations to continue their own illegal activities with less worry of cj interference

Central Theme: Equity could solve crime

Support for humane policies that take into consideration the basic needs of all citizens
Promotes a socialist economy that ensures no citizen has to rationally resort to crime to put food on the table or afford healthcare while still advocating for a democratic political system

How is Class Conflict Related to crime?

The law and punishment are used to maintain class divisions

Marx and Conflict Theory

Class conflict is the root of capitalism
Every society has 2 opposing groups
Those who want to preserve the status quo
Those who wish to change it

First, critical criminology does shed light on the differential

treatment afforded to some citizens over others in a society built on capitalism

Second, there is empirical evidence to support claims of differential treatment of some citizens based on

a variety of extralegal factors

Third, Marxian or conflict theories are often tip-toed around because

Karl Marx favored communism. While that is not the economic system promoted under this type of criminological thought, many will assume such.

Fourth, the themes mentioned in the beginning of the class are distinct to theories that align under

critical/conflict/marxian criminology

Fifth, critical criminologists at their core challenge the basic assumptions

of laws, practices within the criminal justice system and injustices.