11 - Deviance, Crime, & The Law

Informal Social Control

Includes any non-official type of control exercised for violating norms, laws, folkways, or anything someone else deems inappropriate.

Formal Social Control

An official type of control exercised for violating the policy, riles, laws, or regulation of a formal body.

3 Parts of the Criminal Justice System

1. Law enforcement officials - exist to enforce laws, protect people/property, and to prevent crime/civil disorder.

2. Criminal courts - exist to ensure laws are executed fairly and with due process.

3. Prisons - exist to ensure punishments are enforced and public safety is upheld.

4 Crime Facts

1. Every place has formal rules (laws) and people who break those rules, but there is a great variation between countries.

2. Most countries have the same components in their criminal justice system (law enforcement, courts, and prisons).

3. Adult males are disproportionately crime suspects and perpetrators in all countries.

4. In all countries, theft is the most common type of crime, and violent crime is relatively rare.

Durkheim’s View of Crime

Laws and crime are important for reaffirming society’s beliefs and reinforcing social norms and solidarity.

Merton’s Strain Theory

People adapt to inconsistencies between the goals of society and the mains to obtain them.

When there are not legitimate means to obtain culturally defined goals, this phenomenon occurs.

Culturally Defined Goals

To be happy, healthy, safe, and have ones needs met.

To be wealthy/rich, to be able to support friends/family while still living a great life.

Legitimate Means

University education and then a full-time job.

Other forms include becoming an entrepreneur, model, singer, actor, professional athlete, social media influencer, etc.

Illegitimate: anything that involves breaking laws.

Conformity Adaptation to Strain

Accept culturally defined goals.

Accept legitimate means to obtain them.

Most individuals fall in this category, as society and social controls are designed to keep everyone inside it. Social values, the criminal justice system, beliefs in meritocracy, etc. all give us reasons to buy into society’s goals and the legitimate means of obtaining them.

Innovation Adaptation to Strain

Accept culturally defined goals.

Reject legitimate means of obtaining them.

Most associated with criminal behaviour, explains why crime is committed at higher rated by those who come from poverty and therefore lack the means to legitimately achieve societal goals.

Ritualism Adaptation to Strain

Reject culturally defined goals.

Accept legitimate means of obtaining them.

May follow the rules, get a good education, and work hard, but are not committed to traditional goals of wealth and power. Many religious officials fit this adaptation, as do those who spend their time giving to charity while living a modest and humble life.

Retreatism Adaptation to Strain

Reject culturally defined goals.

Reject legitimate means of obtaining them.

The hippie movement and travellers/backpackers traditionally fit into this category. Today, this may look more like the NEET demographic (Not in Employment, Education, or Training).

Rebellion Adaptation to Strain

Replace culturally defined goals with new ones.

Replace legitimate means of achieving them with new ones.

Protestors against capitalism (communists, fascists, racists).

Code of the Street

Informal social code that governs interactions in marginalized urban neighbourhoods, where respect and toughness are critical for survival in the face of systemic poverty, racial inequality, and institutional divestment.

Stigma & Marginalization (Code of the Street)

Residents of these neighbourhoods are looked down on by mainstream society.

Institutional Divestment (Code of the Street)

A lack of {good social services, economic opportunity, education as a realistic option}, a sense of relative deprivation, and a sense that society has abandoned this neighbourhood.

Oppositional Culture (Code of the Street)

A culture that arises in response to systemic marginalization and exclusion, where traditional norms and values are rejected in favour of alternative ones that emphasize autonomy and toughness.

Police as Outsiders (Code of the Street)

Residents view police as ineffective, biased, or hostile, leading to reliance on street code for self-regulation.

Violence as a Means of Social Regulation (Code of the Street)

In the absence of effective law enforcement and trust in formal institutions, violence becomes a way to resolve disputes and enforce the code.

Respect/Juice (Code of the Street)

A central element of street code, a form of social capital that individuals must earn and protect. Disrespect can lead to violence in order to restore ones standing.

Hypermasculinity (Code of the Street)

A heightened form of masculinity that emphasizes dominance, aggression, and control as necessary traits to navigate the street environment.

Manhood (Code of the Street)

The ability to protect oneself and loved ones. In the Code, this must be proven through physical displays of dominance.

Cycles of Violence (Code of the Street)

Where one act of violence is responded to with more acts of violence. This is because one must retain respect or open themselves and their families up to more violence.

Quid-Pro-Quo (Code of the Street)

If residents want help from the police, they must give out information on other crimes in the area first.

Hustles (Code of the Street)

Schemes to make money such as theft or drug sales.

Altruism (Code of the Street)

Selfless concern for the well-being of others.