Luke- sociological theories

• functionalism and crime: 


  -society/culture is good provides a function - organic analogy- view society like a human body. - structural theory- look at society as a whole (macro approach) - harmonious- stopping conflict in society - value consensus- make agreement of what is important/valued society
• Sociological theories- Durkheim: 


  boundary maintenance- crime unites society Social change- crime shows what laws need to change Too little crime is undesirable for society- lack of freedom, dictatorship Too much crime is undesirable for society- break down integral bounds crime as a safety value- some crimes need to occur to reduce wide conflict
• problems with functionalism: 


  -is the CJS always functional, miscarriage of justice - structuralism- crime caused by society not individuals ( not explaining why individuals commit crime) doesn't help victims. - is the law made from value consensus?- made by powerful groups.
• Shared goals:

  -tofay value consensus is weaker- gives to subcultures what might cause a value consensus= financial crisis, diversity, war, natural disaster. shared goals= have children, good Jon, marriage
• Merton 1938:


  everyone in society shares the same goals, but for some people these goals are blocked. Strain theory= culture factors (goals) + wider structural factors (mean how?) becomes dysfunctional - crime is the result of valuing the goals more than the means of achieving them
• criticising merlons strain typologies:

  -doesn't explain why some conform and other retreat/ rebel - can everyone fit into 1 specific category - not good at explaining some crimes: sex crimes, fraud - exaggerates crime committed by the working class- underplays the tole of capitalism and inequality
• Subcultures: 


  a distinctive set of norms and values that provide an alternative to mainstream culture
• A.Cohen:

  -deviance is the result of group failure to achieve cultural norms - non- utilitarian crimes= crimes with no financial gain. - deviance occurs from status frustration- people feel worthless they can't achieve cultural goods, so they invert societies value + seek alternative status and hierarchy
• Cloward and Ohlin: 


  -different neighbourhoods give rise to different cultures - criminal subcultures- longstanding + established criminal networkers already exist - conflict subcultures- only criminal opportunities are within gangs - retreats subcultures- dropouts who resort to drug taking to escape a sense of failure
• What is marxism:

  -opposed to capitalism( economic system which exchanges goods for profit, most powerful are the wealthiest) communism :). - structural (macro theory) about unequal conflict between 2 social classes 1- ruling class, bourgeoise, 2-subject class, proletariat
• what do marxists say about crime?

  -capitalism is a crime causing system. - exploitation of working class drives people to poverty (crime only way to survive) - laws in favour of capitalists, and enforced on working class not upper. - working class bleed fro social problems - people unaware of their exploitation
• negatives and positives of Marxism:

  POSITIVE= offered explanation of the relationship between crime + capitalism, shows link between law making + enforcement + interest of capitalist class, Marxists examine the power struggle in society NEGATIVES= ignores the relationship between crime and non class inequalities, is it too deterministic, not all capitalist societies have high crime rates
• what is crime control policy:

  laws, regulations and other governmental actions that are designed to reduce criminal acts. the media and other powerful groups try to influence policies
• examples of crime control policies:

  laws- theft act 1968/sexual offences act 2003 government initiatives/regulations- police funding/ criminal court formal control- number of police/ prison cells informal control- amount of CCTV/ neighbourhood watch
• sociological theories influencing policies:

  sociological theories argue that crime is caused by culture and society, which often leads to an environmental crime control agenda E.G . informal control and defensive design
• functionalist views on social policy :

  making capitalism fairer, wages, benefits and job security and equal opportunities in school and education in prison. but only if the majority of society want this..?