Marxism, Class and Crime

• Marxist Assumptions

  Agree with labelling theorists that the law is enforced disproportionately against the working class, meaning crime statistics cannot be taken at face value. Though they criticise the labelling theory for failing to examine the wider structure of capitalism for explaining crime through: criminogenic capitalism, state and law making, and ideological functions of crime and law.
• Criminogenic Capitalism

  Capitalism, by its nature, causes crime. Based on exploitation of working class to maximise profits causes: poverty- crime may be the only way the working class can survive; crime may be the only way to obtain the consumer goods advertised, causing utilitarian crime; and alienation and a lack of control- causes frustration and aggression which can cause non-utilitarian crime.
• Criminogenic Capitalism- Capitalist Classes Crime

  Capitalism is a system of ruthless competition among other capitalists, a profit motive encourages greed and self-interest. They have to win to remain in business, so a desire for self-enrichment leads to white collar crimes like tax evasions or breaches of H&S laws.
• Criminogenic Capitalism- Gordon

  Argues crime is a rational response to the capitalist system and hence it is found in all social classes- even though official statistics make it appear as though it is a largely working class phenomenon.
• The State and Law Making

  Marxists see law making and enforcement as only serving the interests of the capitalist class, not based on a value consensus. Chambliss argues that laws to protect private property are the cornerstone of the capitalist economy.
• The State and Law Making- Chambliss, Example 


  Seen through the introduction of English law into Britain's East African colonies; their economic interests were in the colonies' tea, coffee, and other plantations, and these required a plentiful source of local labour. Though the local economy wasn't a money economy, so to force people to work, British introduced tax payable in cash, and not paying this was punishable criminal offence. Money to pay tax could only be earned through working on plantations, the law then served the economic interests of capitalist plantation owners.
• The State and Law Making

  The ruling class have the power to prevent law introduction which could threaten their interests. For example, there are a few laws which challenge the unequal distribution of wealth. Snider argues that the capitalist state is reluctant to pass laws which regulate the activities of business or threaten them maximising profits.
• The State and Law Making- Selective Enforcement 


  Marxists agree with labelling theorists, that although all classes commit crime, when the law is applied there is selective enforcement. While powerless groups such as the working class and minority ethnic groups are criminalised, the police and courts tend to ignore the crimes of the powerful.
• Ideological Functions of Crime & Law

  Performs ideological functions for capitalism. Laws occasionally pass that appear to benefit the working class rather than capitalism, like H&S laws. However, Pearce argues that such laws benefit the ruling class too as they can keep their workers fit for labour. Giving capitalism a caring face creates a false class consciousness to workers.
• Ideological Functions of Crime & Law

  Though laws which benefit the working class aren't rigorously enforced. E.g. despite the law against corporate homicide being passed in 2007, in the first 8 years there was only 1 successful prosecution of a UK company- despite the large number of deaths at work which are due to employers' negligence (Jenabi).
• Ideological Functions of Crime & Law

  As the state enforces laws selectively, it makes crime appear as a largely working class phenomenon. This divides the working class by encouraging workers to blame the criminals among their group for their problems, rather than capitalism. The media and some criminologists contribute by portraying criminals as disturbed individuals- this then conceals the fact that capitalism, by its nature, creates criminals.
• Evaluation of Marxism

  It largely ignores the relationship between crime and non-class inequalities like gender and ethnicity. It is too deterministic and over-predicts the amount of working class crime- not all poor people commit, despite the pressures of poverty. The CJS does sometimes act in the interest of the working class, this can be seen as corporate prosecutions do occur (though Marxists argue that these only happen to perform an ideological function in making the system appear impartial).
• Evaluation of Marxism

  Not all capitalist societies have high crime rates. E.g. homicide rates in Japan and Switzerland are about 1/5 of that in the USA (though Marxists claim that societies with little state welfare provision, like the USA, tend to have a higher crime rate). Left Realists argue that Marxism ignores intra-class crimes; where both the criminal and the victim are working class.