Marxism

• What do Marxists believe about crime and deviance in society?

  They don't see it as positive.
• How do Marxists view the role of crime for the ruling class?

  It plays a positive role for them.
• What type of crime do Marxists focus on?

  White-collar and corporate crime.
• Who do Marxists argue the police and CJS serve?


  The ruling class (bourgeoisie).
• What does Althusser describe law as part of?


  The ideological state apparatus.
• How does law help maintain class inequality according to Marxists?

  It prevents the working class from challenging capitalism.
• What do Marxists argue about the criminalization of working-class behavior?


  It justifies more repressive laws.
• Who stated that the law reflects the interests of the ruling class?

  Stephen Box.
• How are middle-class offences treated compared to working-class offences?

  Middle-class offences are weakly enforced.
• How are those committing 'Benefit Fraud' treated compared to tax fraudsters?

  Benefit fraudsters face court and prison time.
• What power does the ruling class have over law-making according to Stephen Box?

  They prevent laws against their interests.
• How are deaths from health and safety violations classified?

  As civil rather than criminal offences.
• What does Gordon argue about capitalism and crime?


  Capitalism creates a criminogenic value system.
• How does Gordon view crime committed by poorer individuals?


  As a rational response to inequality.
• What does Chambliss argue capitalism promotes?


  Competition, selfishness, and greed.
• How does the media influence crime according to the text?

  It emphasizes celebrity and material success.
• What does the capitalist emphasis on wealth create among poorer sections?

  A culture of envy and resentment.
• What type of crime may be fueled by failure and humiliation under capitalism?


  Non-economic crime like drug addiction.
• How does Chambliss describe the police's reaction to delinquency based on social class?


  It varies significantly between classes.
• How do middle-class individuals negotiate their way out of trouble?

  By using their status and reputation.
• How are working-class individuals treated compared to middle-class individuals by authorities?

  They are treated more harshly.
• What does Croall distinguish between in terms of crime?


  White-collar and corporate crime.
• What is white-collar crime according to Croall?


  Fraud for personal financial gain.
• Who commits corporate crimes?

  People running companies like executives.
• What is the goal of corporate criminals?

  To benefit the company, not self-enrichment.
• What type of crime does Pourtney consider as a third type of white-collar crime?


  State crime.
• Why is white-collar crime difficult to estimate?

  Perpetrators cover up their offenses.
• Why are companies reluctant to report white-collar crime?

  It generates bad publicity.
• What is the Marxist view on the role of crime and deviance in society?

  Marxists don't think that crime and deviance play a positive role in society, unlike the Functionalists.
• What is the Marxist focus when it comes to crime?

  Marxists focus on explaining white-collar and corporate crime committed by the middle-classes.
• According to Marxists, who does the police and criminal justice system work on behalf of?

  The ruling class (bourgeoisie)
• How do Marxists view the role of law in society?

  Law is part of the superstructure of society and helps to justify or hide social class inequality.
• According to Althusser, what does the law help to do?


  The law helps to justify or hide social class inequality as part of the 'ideological state apparatus'.
• How do Marxists argue the criminal justice system functions?

  The CJS criminalizes working-class behavior, justifying more repressive laws and heavier policing of working-class areas.
• According to Stephen Box, what does the law reflect?


  The law reflects the interests of the ruling class.
• How do Marxists view the enforcement of the law?

  Offences committed by the middle-class are not as clearly defined as criminal or are selectively/weakly enforced.
• What is the difference in how 'Benefit Fraud' and tax fraud are treated according to Marxists?


  Those who commit 'Benefit Fraud' often face court and prison time, while those who commit tax fraud rarely face court and are simply 'invited' to pay back what is owed.
• According to Stephen Box, how do the powerful avoid having their actions defined as criminal?


  The powerful have the power to prevent laws being passed which are not in their interest, so deaths of workers due to health and safety violations are defined as civil rather than criminal offences.
• How does Marxism explain the relationship between crime and social class?

  • Capitalism is responsible for crime committed by working-class people because the value system is criminogenic
  • Crime is a rational response by the poor, homeless, and unemployed to the inequalities and humiliations they experience
  • Capitalism encourages competition, selfishness, and greed, shaping people's attitudes towards crime
  • The need to make a profit and desire for self-enrichment encourage the rich and powerful to commit white-collar and corporate crime
  • Failure and humiliation under capitalism may fuel non-economic crime like drug addiction and domestic violence
• According to Chambliss, how does social class shape the way the police react to delinquency?


  Middle-class men (saints) can use their status and reputation to negotiate their way out of trouble, while working-class men (roughnecks) are constantly under surveillance and treated more harshly.