Criminology Unit 8

Mainstream Criminology

focuses on criminal behavior and works within existing social order

Critical Criminology

challenges mainstream assumptions by focusing on power, inequality, and conflict

Praxis

theory must lead to action. Transformative action—changing unjust social conditions is essential

Critical Theories

question whether some behaviors should be crimes at all. Ex. Support for decriminalizing drug use

Labeling theories

often about who gets labeled, not just why they do. Ex. War on drugs targeting certain communities

Conflict theories

powerful decide what counts as crime and who gets punished. Ex. Light penalties for white collar crime

Feminist theories

shows how justice policies ignored women’s experiences and pushed major reforms. Ex. Human trafficking

New critical theories

promote community based, restorative, and non-punitive approaches

Radical theories

crime comes from poverty and class inequality built into capitalism

Integrated theories

crime explained via multiple theories

Theoretical Range

Each theory is only meant to explain certain types/aspects of crime

Global fallacy

Mistake = trying to use one theory to explain all crime

Left realism

A theoretical attempt to translate radical ideas into realistic social policy/Questions conversative approaches to crime control/Realistic reforms

Peacemaking criminology

Crime = human suffering, justice through peace and nonviolence/Linked with restorative and social justice

Postmodern criminology

Questions “one true” explanation of crime

Criminal Behavior Systems/Typologies

Typology based on criminal career, group support, overlap with legal behavior, and societal reaction. Clinard & Quinney’s 9 types: Violent, property, occupational/corporate, political, public-order, conventional, organized, professional.

Primary deviance

initial act

Secondary deviance

deviance caused by being labeled/Stigma pushes people deeper into deviant roles

Shaming Theory (Braithwaite)

Humiliation increases crime/Stigmatized individuals join deviant groups