Right and Left Realist Approaches to Crime

when did realism emerge

the 1980s

what is the general realist view of crime

they acknowledge that crime exists, and usually affects there people living in poverty; realism doesn’t just focus on understanding the causes of crime but attempts to offer solutions and responses

what is left realism a response to

traditional Marxist and neo-Marxist explanations which it saw as romanticising crime and failing to take the effects of being a victim of crime fully into account

what do left realists generally see as the cause of crime

structural inequality; for crime to be reduced there needs to be greater social equality and a sense of community

what are left realism approaches to dealing with crime called

communitarianism

what is the left realist view of victim surveys

they largely accept the OCS, but they believe that they may underestimate the amount of victimisation of the working class, so use questionnaires to ask people about the crimes they are victims of

what do Lea and Young identify as the three causes of crime

• relative deprivation

• subcultures

• marginalisation

what is relative deprivation

when people view themselves as deprived in relation to others

what are subcultures and how are they a cause of crime

various types of subculture form among the working class (e.g. as an illegitimate opportunity structure) and they may begin to see offending behaviour as normal

what is marginalisation

the process through which some people find themselves on the edge of society and are unable to access to the rights and services available; this in turn leads to crime being seen as more acceptable

what does Farrington identify as the risk factors for being criminal

• run-neighbourhoods

• poor housing

• low school attainment

• poor parenting

• parental conflict

• lone parents

what are some examples of crime prevention strategies proposed by left realism

• democratic policing

• early intervention with young people

• parenting classes

• improving employment rates

• community building strategies

what is democratic policing

policing that involves the community and is fair, supportive rather than threatening, a relationship is built with the community through meetings, PCSOs

what is a PCSO

a police community support officer

what are some examples of early intervention strategies with young people (left realism)

youth clubs, educational support, social services, encouraging young people to have aspirations

what are some examples of educational support

compensatory education policies (such as Free School Meals, Educational Maintenance Allowance)

what are some criticisms of compensatory education policies

• Educational Maintenance Allowance was scrapped

• Flaherty - not all people who are eligible for Free School Meals take up the offer due to stigma

• Whitty and Bernstein - compensatory education policies help to a certain extent but cannot overcome deep-rooted inequality and poverty