CJ week 5
Critical Criminology
Week 5 Overview
Course: CJ1310
Instructor: Dr. Toman
Reminder and Disclaimer
Review of existing research and theories by various scholars.
These views are not personal opinions; do not reflect Texas State University (TXST).
Critical Criminology: Key Concepts
Focuses on power dynamics within the criminal justice system.
Critiques societal inequalities.
Challenges the binary concept of “good” and “bad.”
Various versions exist, all emphasizing social inequality and aspects of criminal justice.
Economic Inequality and Crime: A Marxist Perspective
Marx's Analysis
Society is divided into economic classes with conflicting interests.
Wealthy classes maintain power by controlling the legal system for their benefit.
Criminal Justice as a Tool
The criminal justice system maintains economic inequality.
Rich individuals influence laws to protect their interests.
The poor are often criminalized for resisting systemic injustices.
Social Consequences
Poverty correlates with increased rates of property and violent crimes.
This correlation reinforces the cycle of inequality and perpetuates social issues.
Racial Inequality and Crime
History of Oppression
The U.S. has a pervasive history of racial inequality impacting the criminal justice system.
Over-policing of Black communities is a key issue, resulting in disproportionate arrest rates.
Usage and Arrest Rates
Usage Rates: Black individuals use marijuana at a rate of 1.2 times that of whites.
Arrest Rates: Black individuals are arrested for marijuana possession at 3.6 times the rate of whites.
Critical Race Theory
Examines the criminal justice system as a mechanism to uphold white supremacy.
Structural Racism: Not just individual prejudice, but embedded systems maintaining inequality.
The #Blacklivesmatter Movement
Historical Context: Highlights systemic racism and police brutality against Black Americans.
Colorblind Racism: Denies racial disparities and maintains the status quo, claiming race is irrelevant.
Gender Inequality and Crime: Feminist Perspectives
Patriarchy and Male Dominance
Feminist criminology focuses on how male-dominated systems affect crime and justice.
Gendered Power Imbalance: Women are disproportionately affected by violence and crime.
Men's societal control leads to minimized contributions from women.
Crimes Against Women
Understudied crimes such as rape and domestic violence are often undervalued.
Examines reasons women commit crimes, confronting stereotypes and exploring socio-economic factors.
Women in the Criminal Justice System
Highlights challenges faced by women in the criminal justice workforce due to gender bias.
Rape and the Law
Historical Context: Rape was historically not taken seriously, exemplified by resistance requirements and marital rape exceptions.
Rape Shield Laws: Reforms have led to the removal of resistance mandates and developing protections against victim-blaming.
Testing of Rape Kits: Ongoing issues include systemic delays and biases in testing rape kits, affecting justice for victims.
Rape on College Campuses
Statistics on campus-related sexual crimes include:
13% incidence of non-consensual contact
41% sexual harassment
6% stalking
Intersectionality in Criminology
Understanding Complex Identities
Intersectionality: Recognizes the interplay between different social categories (race, class, gender) shaping crime and justice experiences.
Statistical Evidence
Table of mean composite scores on safety by gender shows significant differences in perceived physical safety and concern level between females, males, and other categories.
Physical Safety on Campus:
Female: 2.63 (SD 0.8)
Male: 2.97 (SD 0.9)
Other: 2.44 (SD 1.2)
Concern about Safety on Campus:
Female: 2.05 (SD 0.9)
Male: 1.57 (SD 1.0)
Other: 2.14 (SD 1.2)
Psychological Safety in Classroom:
Female: 2.77 (SD 0.8)
Male: 2.60 (SD 0.8)
Other: 2.48 (SD 0.7)
Gender-Based Discrimination
Mean Composite Scores to Discrimination Subscales by Gender
Statistics include observed and experienced negative behaviors and rates of physical assault by intimate partners.
Observed Negative Behaviors:
Female: 0.95 (SD 0.9)
Male: 0.79 (SD 0.8)
Transgender/Other: 1.19 (SD 1.0)
Experienced Negative Behavior:
Female: 0.45 (SD 0.6)
Male: 0.40 (SD 0.6)
Transgender/Other: 0.69 (SD 0.8)
Physically Assaulted by Intimate Partner:
Female: 0.10 (SD 0.3)
Male: 0.10 (SD 0.4)
Transgender/Other: 0.13 (SD 0.2)
Note
Percentages indicate the occurrence of specific negative behaviors among groups.
Green Criminology: Environmental Crimes
Challenges traditional criminology by expanding crime definitions to include ecological harm.
Key Areas
Corporate Environmental Harm: Exposure of corporate crimes that damage ecosystems with minimal repercussions.
Global Environmental Justice: Emphasizes disproportionate environmental crime impact on marginalized communities.
Beyond Traditional Legal Frameworks: Advocates for broader definitions of harm relating to ecological destruction.
Postmodern Criminology
Influenced by Michel Foucault, views criminal justice systems as mechanisms of power.
Extends beyond punishment to encompass social discipline via surveillance and normalization, actively shaping definitions of criminality to benefit dominant interests.
Queer Criminology: LGBTQ+ Experiences of Crime
Anti-Gay Violence: Examining violence and hate crimes against LGBTQ+ individuals.
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in Same-Sex Couples: Looking into unique challenges faced by these relationships.
Prison Housing: Discusses the importance of tailored policies for the safety of LGBTQ+ individuals in prison.
Exam #1 Information and Study Guide
Date: Monday, February 10
Required materials: Bring your own scantron.
Format: 50 questions, entire class period allotted.
Notes: One page of notes allowed (front/back).
Coverage: Chapters 1-4.
Additional study material available on Canvas.