Social class and crime

What did Miller say about working class values

opposition to mainstream values was more widespread in the working class as their values are incompatible with middle class education values

What did a YouGov poll find out about benefit fraud?

A 2013 YouGov poll found that public opinion expected that benefit fraud was evident in 27% of cases, the actual figure is around 0.7%

What did Houchin say about where you live and crime?

strong relationship between imprisonment and living in the most deprived area of Scotland. In Glasgow, 60% of prisoners came from the most deprived council estates

Culture as an explanation of crime - Miller

lower classes in America created a culture centred around several focal concerns e.g. 'toughness', 'smartness', 'excitement'. this began as a response to the boredom of their employment

Evaluation for Miller

Dated. Hall et al - traditional WC culture has been replaced by consumerism, WC involvement in crime is caused by a desire for material gain.

Jones

suggests that tax avoidance may cost the British government more than 20 times the amount that benefit fraud has. Through ideological agencies like the media, the ruling class encourage society to believe a distorted view of social reality.

Reiman

a traditional Marxist, believes the lack of opportunity is a structural feature of capitalism, working to keep the rich rich and the poor poor.

white collar crime

committed by professionals and managers within their roles e.g. fraud

Sayer

the rich largely shape the law so they are unlikely to end up in prison. E.g. the rich make loopholes which allow companies to avoid tax, including tax havens (states/small islands where money can be hidden or where tax rates are low)

educational qualifications and crime

Study of 2,171 adult prisoners in England and Wales in 2006/2007 found that 43% had no educational qualifications.

Crimogenic capitalism - Marxism

Capitalism encourages individuals to be materialistic consumers, making us aspire to an unrealistic and often unattainable lifestyle.

Marx’s explanation of working class criminality

Crime is a product of class inequality. Work is essential to human dignity. If an individual isn’t working it is likely due to dehumanisation. E.g. lumpenproletariat. Gordon argues that capitalism generates a ‘dog-eat-dog’ mentality, encouraging greed and selfishness.

Merton’s explanation of working class criminality

Crime is the result of anomie. Strain theory. He recognised that people always want more, which explains working class crime.

Cohen’s explanation of working class criminality

Status frustration. Delinquent boys achieved status by establishing subcultures which focused on breaking the rules.

Cloward and Ohlin’s explanation of working class criminality

recognised the establishment of criminal subcultures in working class areas.

Lea and Young’s explanation of working class criminality

Identified the feeling of deprivation as being key to criminal behaviour. Feelings of injustice led people to get what they felt they were owed by criminal means. Marginalisation also led to increased crime when subcultures felt alienated by society

Glover’s explanation of working class criminality

material deprivation leads to higher levels of street crime. Inequality, poverty and social exclusion are key causes of crime.

Culture as an explanation of crime - Murray

The underclass have developed a culture of dependence on welfare. Believes that generous benefits have encouraged a culture that ‘rewards’ laziness and irresponsible behaviour, including crime.