Realist theories of crime

Right realist causes of crime

Biological differences, inadequate socialisation and rational choice

Wilson Herrnstein (1985) Right realist

Crime is caused by a combination of biological and social factors. Consider personality traits such as: aggressiveness, risk taking and low impulse control.

Herrnstein and Murray (1994) Right realist

The main cause of crime is low intelligence which is biologically determined

Charles Murray (1990) Right realist

Crime rate is increasing due to the growing underclass or ‘new rabble’ who fail to socialise their children properly. The underclass is growing in both the USA and UK as a result of welfare dependency.

Consequences of welfare dependency

Decline of marriage, growth of lone parent families and absent fathers.

Bennett et al (1996)

Crime is a result of growing up surrounded by deviant, delinquent and criminal adults in a perfect criminogenic environment

Ron Clarke (1980) Right Realist

The decision to commit crime is a choice based on a rational calculation of likely consequences. Perceived costs of crime are low which is why the crime rate has increased.

Felson (2002) Right realist

For a crime to occur, there must be a motivated offender, a suitable target and the absence of a capable guardian.

Wilson and Kelling (1982) Right Realist

‘Zero tolerance’ policy towards undesirable behaviour and Broken Windows article argues that it is essential to maintain the orderly character of the neighbourhood to prevent crime taking hold.

Jock Young (2011)

Crime rate in New York had already been falling 9 years before ‘Zero Tolerance’

Zero Tolerance

Ignores corporate crime and gives police free reign to discriminate against minorities, the youth and the homeless.

Left realist accusations

Marxists neglect working-class crime and its effects. Neo-Marxists romanticise working-class criminals as Robin Hoods when in reality w/c criminals mostly target the w/c. Labelling theorists neglect the w/c who suffer.

Lea and Young (1984) Left Realist

Three causes of crime: relative deprivation, subculture and marginalisation

Young (1999) Left Realist

The combination of relative deprivation and individualism causes crime by encouraging the pursuit of self-interest at the expense of others

Young (2002) Left Realist

There are ghettos in the USA where there is full immersion in the American dream however blocked opportunities lead to street crime

Marginalised groups

Lack clear goals and organisations to represent their interests and express frustration through criminal means.

Young (2002)

We are now living in the stage of late modern society where instability, insecurity and exclusion make the problem of crime worse.

Since 1970s

Insecurity and exclusion have increased as de-industrialisation and loss of unskilled jobs increased unemployment and destabilised family, contributing to the increased exclusion of those at the bottom. Wider gap between rich and poor, increased individualism and increased relative deprivation.

Young and Mertons Similiarity

Young’s contrast between cultural inclusion and economic exclusion and Merton’s notion of anomie.

‘Relative deprivation downwards’

The hardworking and disciplined middle class resent the stereotypical underclass as idle and irresponsible, living off undeserved state handouts. This increases ‘hate crimes’

Late modern reactions to crime

Less public consensus on right and wrong so boundary blurred between unacceptable and acceptable behaviour. Informal control becomes less effective as families and communities disintegrate, leading to the demand for harsher penalties and increased criminalisation and low-tolerance.

Young (2011)

Since the mid 1990s, the crime rate has fallen substantially however crime is a social construction and may continue to be seen as a problem as the Crime Survey for England and Wales (2014) found that 61% thought crime had risen

Rising ‘Anti-social behaviour rate’

Since 1990s governments have aimed to control this introducing ASBOs in 1998 and IPNA in 2015.

ASBO

Anti-social behaviour orders 1998

IPNA

Injunctions to prevent Nuisance and Annoyance 2015

Behaviour measure features

Blurring the boundaries of crime, creating a subjective definition of anti-social behaviour, flexibility to make endless numbers of violations

Kinsey, Lea and Young (1986)

The police clear-up rates are too low to act as a deterrent to crime and police spend too little time actually investigating crime.

Military policing

‘Swamping’ an area and using random stop and search tactics which alienates communities and results in a vicious cycle where the locals no longer trust the police with information and therefore in response, they resort to military policing.

Left realist views on tackling crime

Policing must be made accountable to local communities and deal with local concerns therefore military policing is ineffective. A multi-agency approach is needed from different agencies and institutions.

Left realists tackling structural causes of crime

Deal with the inequality of opportunity and the unfairness of rewards, tackle discriminations, provide decent jobs for everyone and improve housing and community facilities and become more tolerant of diversity.

Henry and Milovanovic (1996)

Left realists fail to explain corporate crime

Right realists

Neo-conservatives

Left realist

Reformist socialists