Right-realist view of Crime

What was James Q Wilson philosophy on crime?

He concentrated on 'predatory street crime' e.g. murder, burglary & theft. He argued that the general public are more concernee about these types of crime than victimless or 'white-collar' crime. Street crimes are particulary important, as they undermine neighbourhoods and strong communities are the best protection about rising crime.

What did Hans Eysenk (1971) argue about Biological causes of crime?

Biological differences between individuals make some people innately more strongly predisposed to crime than others due to personality traits such as agression, risk-taking or low intelligence.

What did Charles Murray (1994) argue about biological causes of crime?

He argue the main cause of crime is low intelligence, which is biologically determined. Eysenck claimed intelligence was completely genetic and couldn't be improved by any amount of schooling.

What did Charles Murray (1990) claim about the underclass being the cause of crime?

He argued that crime is increasing because of the growth in the social underclass. Murray believes that lone-mothers are ineffective agents of socialisation, especially for boys. As a result, young males turn to delinquent male role models on the streets and gain status through criminal activity rather than honest work and family values.

What does Ron Clarke (1982) argue about Rational Choice Theory for the causes of crime?

He argues that decisions are based on rational calculations of consequences. If the rewards of the crime appear greater than the risk of being caught, then people are more likely to offend.

What does Travis Hirschi (1969) argue with Social Control Theory?

He sees crime as a result of social institutions lose control over individuals. He argued that criminal activity occurs when an individual's attachment to society is weakened. This attachment depends on the strength of social bonds that holds people to society. According to Hirschi: there are four social bond that bind us together - Attachment, Commitment, Involvement and Belief.

What Five ways does James Q Wilson argue for reduce Crime?

1) More Pro-active Policing

2) Crime Proof Designing

3) Greater use of Visual Deterrents

4) Setting up of Neighbourhood Watch Schemes

5) Promoting Social Values

What does the more Pro-active Policing mean in more detail?

Wilson sees crime as the result of rational calculations (Rational Choice Theory) i.e. people will commit a crime if the benefits exceed the likely costs. Harsher sentences and a more visible police presence would help. The police should:

- Maintain a strong presence on the street.

- Keep in close contact with local community.

- Keep the streets clear of the potential criminals.

- Tackle small inevitabilities before they escalate into much larger crimes.

Wilson and Kelling's (1982) Broken Windows Theory stated that maintaining and monitoring urban environments to prevent small crimes such as vandalism helps to create an atmosphere of order and lawfulness, thereby preventing more serious crimes from happening.

What does Crime Proof Designing mean in more detail?

Town planners and designers should be more to crime proof neighbourhoods, houses and retail outlets. For example, Poyner and Webb (1997) discovered there was a high rate of thefts of pursues from women's shopping bags in Birmingham's Bull Ring Indoor Market. Most thefts occurred in the two markets where stalls were most densely packed together. When one of the markets was re-designed (i.e. the stalls were spaced further apart and the lighting was improved) thefts fell by 70%.

What does Greater use of Visual Deterrents mean in more detail?

The General public should do more to deter potential criminals from targeting them e.g. using a device to ensure that nobody tampers with your drink at a night-club. Right Realists believe that the 'Big Brother' approach to using Closed Circuit Television in city centres is a good move.

What does Setting up of Neighbourhood Watch Schemes mean in more detail?

Right Realists are strong supporters of Neighbourhood Watch schemes, as they encourage the community to combat crime in their local area. This is exactly what the Right Realists like to see, as they believe that it will increase the community cohesion within the neighbourhood.

What does Promoting Social Values means in more detail?

Although Right Realists don't spend a great deal of time on this point, New Right thinkers such as Charles Murray would certainly call for 'agencies of social control' to concentrate their efforts in promoting social values. Linked to this would be the introduction of compulsory parenting classes for the parents of young offenders.

What is an evaluation for the perspective of Right-realism?

- It takes a realistic view of crime and offers practical solutions.

- It overestimates the rationality of criminals and how far they calculate the cost/benefits of crime before the crime itself.

- Strategies such as zero tolerance just displaces crime rather than solves it.

- It is too focused on petty street crime and ignores corporate crime, which can be much more harmful to the public, and wider social inequalities.

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