Postmodernist

• What is the postmodern view of crime?


  Due to diversity and fragmentation society is rapidly changing which no longer fits the outdated meta-narratives of law, and there is need to go beyond narrow definitions of the law and develop a wider concept
• What is Henry and Milovanovic (1996) transgressive approach?


  Crime should be re-conceptualised into considering the use of power to show disrespect for others causing harm to them
• What are the two forms of harm according to Henry and Milovanovic (1996)?


  Harms of reduction = victim feels immediate loss or injury

  Harms of repression = power is used to restrict future human development
• What are the causes of crime according to postmodernist's?


  Crime becomes a one-off event expressing the identity an individual chooses and is motivated by individual causes (emotional reasons) due to the fragmentation of society
• What is postmodernists control of crime?


  Private crime prevention

  Foucault (1991) CCTV

  Heavier and repressive policing
• What are the strengths of the postmodernists approach?


  Explains contemporary developments (surveillance)

  Recognises other dimensions to causes of crime

  Explains growing localism attached to policing strategies

  Explains non-utilitarian crime

  Fuller picture of the pattern of crime
• What are the weaknesses of the postmodernists approach?


  Doesn't explain why most people don't use their power to harm others

  Ignores justice issues and citizen rights

  Doesn't recognise decentralised and informal arrangements of crime control

  Theory is a rediscovery of labelling theory and radical criminology