Lea and young - left realism

• • stats show real differences in the rates of offending
  • crime is a result of relative deprivation, subcultures and marginalisation
• Marginalisation:

  • racism has led to the marginalisation and economic exclusion of ethnic minorities
  • face higher levels of unemployment, poverty and poor housing
• Relative deprivation:

  • media's emphasis on consumerism promotes a sense of relative deprivation by setting materialistic goals - minorities are unable to achieve by legitimate means.
• cannot explain the differences in minorities in terms of police racism. - police would have to be selective in their racism for it tp be the cause of differences in racism
• Astructural view:

  • relative deprivation leads to utilitarian crime
  • marginalisation can lead to non-utilitarian crime - turn to violence to release frustration
• Criticisms:

  • Asian rates are less likely than Blacks but not because they are less likely to offend. Blacks = dangerous. Asians = passive
  • since 9/11 police regard Asians as dangerous which led to an increase in Asian crime rate