Deviance and Crime

What does U.S. incarceration rate in context mean?

Compared globally, the U.S. INCARCERATES FAR MORE PEOPLE PER CAPITA THAN OTHER NATIONS, including other wealthy democracies, reflecting unique sentencing policies and criminal justice practices.

What is a stigma?

The LABELING of individuals AS DEFECTIVE in some way and tendencies for others to read the individual accordingly. A criminal record is one way to mark stigma.

What is control theory?

CONTROL THEORY argues that people CONFORM TO NORMS when they have STRONG SOCIAL BONDS— attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief — and deviate when those bonds weaken.

What does conflict theory argue about deviance and crime?

CONFLICT THEORY ARGUES that LAWS and DEFINITIONS OF DEVIANCE REFLECT the INTEREST OF THE POWERFUL, and that the criminal justice system disproportionately targets the powerless.

What was the situation for Black men in prison at the peak of incarceration?

At THE HEIGHT of the INCARCERATION CRISIS in 2001, approximately 1 IN 3 BLACK MEN could EXPECT to go to PRISON in their lifetime, reflecting MASSIVE RACIAL DISPARITIES in the criminal justice system.

Why has the Black incarceration rate dropped in recent years?

Higher initial rates mean any drop affects African Americans most

1. a SHIFT FROM CRACK use TO OPIOIDS AFFECTING MORE WHITE PEOPLE

2. shifting focus to SEX OFFENDERS (who are most often white with longer sentences)

3. more attention to RACIST POLICING.

What is the Fair Sentencing Act?

In 2010, Congress passed the Fair Sentencing Act (FSA), which REDUCED the CRACK - TO - POWDER COCAINE SENTENCING DISPARITY from 100:1 to 18:1 as a bi-partisan compromise.

What is social control?

WAYS SOCIETIES REGULATE AND SANCTION BEHAVIOR TO ENCOURAGE CONFORMITY to and discourage deviance from the norms.

What is secondary deviation in labeling theory?

Secondary deviation occurs when an individual ACCEPTS THE LABEL OF DEVIANT AND ACTS ACCORDINGLY.

What is broken windows theory?

Broken windows theory holds that VISIBLE SIGNS OF DISORDER (e.g., broken windows, graffiti) SIGNAL that AN AREA IS UNCONTROLLED, encouraging FURTHER crime and DEVIANCE.

What is deviance?

MODES OF ACTION THAT DO NOT CONFORM TO THE NORMS or values held by most members OF a group or SOCIETY.

What is the U.S. incarceration rate compared to other countries?

The U.S. has the HIGHEST PER CAPITA INCARCERATION RATE in the world.

What are positive and negative sanctions?

POSITIVE SANCTIONS ARE REWARDS (praise, awards, salary raises) that encourage conformity; NEGATIVE SANCTIONS ARE PUNISHMENTS that enforce norms against deviant behavior.

What are norms?

Rules of conduct that specify APPROPIATE BEHAVIOR in a given range of social situations — the DOS AND DON’TS of society.

What is primary deviation in labeling theory?

PRIMARY DEVIATION refers to ACTIONS THAT CAUSE OTHER TO LABEL ONE AS A DEVIANT.

What does functionalist theory argue about deviance?

FUNCTIONALIST theory argues that DEVIANCE PERFORMS POSITIVE FUNCTIONS FRO SOCIETY by clarifying norms, PROMOTING SOCIAL SOLIDARITY, and SIGNALING when INSTITUTIONAL CHANGES are needed.

Does deviance always equal crime?

No. DEVIANCE refers to behavior that VIOLATES NORMS; CRIME REFERS to DEVIANCE that is CODIFIED INTO LAW. Not all deviant acts are crimes and not all crimes are considered deviant by all.

What is the relationship between race and imprisonment, including in NJ?

BLACK AMERICANS are INCARCERATED AT DRAMATICALLY HIGHER RATES THAN WHITE AMERICANS NATIONALLY AND IN NJ, driven by differential enforcement, sentencing disparities, and structural inequalities.

What are reasons for changes in incarceration and crime rates?

1. Shifting age demographics (baby boomers aging),

2. incarceration of young people

3. a better economy

4. neighborhood watch programs

5. changes in policing

6. more data-driven focused attention on high-crime areas.

What is normalization of deviance?

When LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE start DISREGARDING the SAME RULE, the typical response is to normalize (or neutralize) the deviant behavior, recasting it as 'normal.'

According to Howard Becker, where does deviance lie?

Deviance is not a quality that lies in behavior itself, but in the INTERACTION BETWEEN THE PERSON WHO COMMITS AN ACT AND THOSE WHO RESPOND TO IT.

What is social deviance vs. statistical deviance?

SOCIAL DEVIANCE VIOLATES NORMS or values; STATISTICAL DEVIANCE is behavior that IS SIMPLY RARE OR UNCOMMON in a population.

What is primary deviation in labeling theory?

Primary deviation refers to ACTIONS THAT CAUSE OTHERS TO LABEL ONE AS A DEVIANT.

What is labeling theory?

Labeling theory suggests that PEOPLE BECOME ‘DEVIANT’ BECAUSE CERTAIN LABELS ARE ATTACHED TO THEIR BEHAVIOR by political authorities and others; deviants are people who have successfully been labeled as deviants.

What are the trends in crime and incarceration rates?

Crime rates and incarceration rates both ROSE DRAMATICALLY from the 1970s through the 1990s, then diverged — crime rates fell sharply while incarceration rates continued to rise before eventually declining after 2008.

What are U.S. crime rates?

U.S. crime rates have DECLINED SIGNIFICANTLY since their peak in the early 1990s, with both violent and property crime falling substantially through the 2010s and 2020s.

What is the crack vs. cocaine sentencing disparity?

Under the 100:1 regime, POSSESSION OF CRACK (associated with Black communities) TRIGGERED THE SAME SENTENCE 100 TIMES as much powder cocaine (associated with white communities).

African Americans served virtually as much time for non-violent drug offenses as whites did for violent offenses.

What are race/ethnicity incarceration rate trends?

Black and Hispanic Americans are incarcerated at far higher rates than white Americans. Black incarceration rates have declined in recent years but remain disproportionately high.