Right realism

• What does right realism see crime as?


  A real and growing problem that destroys communities
• What was the argument of policymakers in the 1970s and 80s regarding criminology?

  That 'nothing works' in terms of curbing crime
• What shift occurred in official thinking regarding crime control?


  A shift from searching for causes of crime to practical crime control measures
• How do right realists view the best way to reduce crime?


  Through control and punishment rather than rehabilitation
• What do right realists criticize other theories for?


  Failing to offer practical solutions to rising crime
• Do right realists explain the causes of crime despite their focus on crime reduction strategies?

  Yes, they do explain the causes of crime
• What theory do Wilson and Herrnstein propose regarding criminal behavior?


  A biosocial theory that combines biological and social factors
• What biological differences may predispose individuals to commit crime?


  Personality traits such as aggressiveness and low impulse control
• What do right realists believe about the relationship between socialization and crime?


  Effective socialization decreases the risk of offending
• According to Charles Murray, what is contributing to the increasing crime rate?


  A growing underclass that fails to socialize their children properly
• How has welfare dependency affected family structures according to right realists?


  It has led to the decline of marriage and growth of lone parent families
• What is the impact of absent fathers on boys according to right realists?


  Boys lack paternal discipline and appropriate male role models
• What do Bennett et al. argue about the environment in which crime occurs?


  It is a criminogenic environment designed to produce street criminals
• What does rational choice theory assume about individuals?


  That they have free will and the power of reason
• According to Ron Clarke, what influences the decision to commit crime?


  A rational calculation of the likely consequences
• Why do right realists believe the crime rate has increased?


  Because the perceived costs of crime are low
• What does Felson's routine activity theory state is necessary for a crime to occur?


  A motivated offender, a suitable target, and the absence of a capable guardian
• What is the main focus of right realists in tackling crime?


  Control, containment, and punishment of offenders
• What is 'target hardening' in crime prevention policies?


  Increasing the cost of crimes to the offender
• What does the 'zero tolerance' policy advocate according to Wilson and Kelling? - broken windows


  Immediate action against signs of deterioration in neighborhoods
• What does right realism ignore according to its critics?


  Wider structural causes such as poverty
• What is a criticism of the rational choice theory according to critics?


  It overstates the offenders' rationality and cost-benefit calculations
• What do Lilly et al. argue about IQ differences and offending?


  IQ differences account for less than 3% of differences in offending
• What type of crime does right realism focus on?


  Petty street crime
• What is the consequence of zero tolerance and target hardening according to critics?


  It leads to a displacement of crime to other areas
• What does Jock Young argue about the 'success' of zero tolerance policies?


  It was a myth created by politicians and police
• What does Young say about the crime rate in New York before zero tolerance was introduced?


  It had already been falling since 1985
• How did police respond to a shortage of serious crime according to Young?


  By redefining minor deviant acts as worthy of punishment
• What did police and politicians claim after zero tolerance was introduced?


  That cracking down on minor crimes caused the decline in crime rates
• What does Young suggest about the relationship between zero tolerance and the decline in crime rates?


  That the decline was a product of pre-existing trends, not zero tolerance