Left realists

• Lea & Young 


  Crime has its roots in deprivation, however deprivation is not directly responsible. For example, living standards have risen but so have crime rates.

  This may be due to people being more aware of their deprivation due to the media.
• Runciman


  Feeling deprived compared to others or their own expectations can lead to crime as they resort to crime to obtain what they feel entitled to.
• Relative deprivation & today’s society

  Although people are better off, they are now more aware of relative deprivation due to the media and advertising.
• Young 


  Individualism is a concern with the self and one’s individual rights, rather than those of the group. It causes crime by encouraging the pursuit of self-interest at the expense of others.
• Weber 


  Some may turn to crime to close the ‘deprivation gap’ while others may find that religion offers them spiritual comfort.

  Theodicy of disprivilege - an explanation for their situation.
• Pryce 


  African Caribbean community in Bristol:

  Identified a variety of subcultures or lifestyles, including hustlers (pleasure seeking and criminal), Rastafarians, saints (members of Pentecostal churches) and w/c respectables.
• Young (subculture)


  There are ghettos in the USA where there is ‘full immersion in the American Dream: a culture hooked in Gucci, BMW, Nikes.’ However, opportunities to achieve these goals legitimately are blocked, so they resort to street crime instead.
• Marginalisation

  Marginalised groups lack both clear goals and organisations to represent their interests. Being powerless to use political means to improve their position, they express their frustration through criminal means such as violence and rioting.
• Young (late modernity)


  Late modernity led to crime:

  Deindustrialisation - loss of unskilled manual jobs -> increased unemployment.

  Destabilisation - New Right Gov policies hold back welfare spending on the poor -> increased marginalisation.

  Cultural inclusion & economic exclusion - greater inequality between rich & poor, free market values -> encourage individualism.

  Generalised relative deprivation.

  Deprivation downwards - m/c resent w/c who they see as living of undeserved handouts.
• Young (high crime)


  Crime is more widespread and is found increasingly throughout the social structure, not just at the bottom.

  Crime is nastier - increase in hate crimes.
• Young (low tolerance)


  Less effective informal controls.

  Demands for harsher formal controls.
• Kinsey, Lea & Young (tackling crime)


  Public involvement in policing.

  Police accountability in communities.

  Multi-agency approach - crime control cannot be left to the police alone.
• Left realism links to left wing policies

  Tough on crime: Tough on causes.

  New Labour’s ‘New Deal’ - attempt to reverse the exclusion of young people who are at a greater risk of offending.