Durkheim

• Durkheim:

  Crime is inevitable

  -in every society, some people are inadequately socialised

  -society s made up of different subcultures with different norms and values

  -this means that shared rules and laws become unclear and weak (anomie)

  -too much crime = societal norms and values would break down

  -too little crime = society would not change or grow

  -when crime is too high or too low, then it becomes dysfunctional
• boundary maintenance (function of crime according to Durkheim)


  definition - society’s reactions to crime serve a purpose in reminding others criminal behaviour is wrong

  example - Shannon Matthews (2008)

  -reported missing, huge police search was issued, she was living and hiding at her home because her parents wanted the reward money

  function?

  bringing the community together, social cohesion, cooperation

  this reaction unites people against the wrongdoers and reinforces shared norms and values which strengthens society.
• social change (function of crime according to Durkheim)?

  definition - crime is needed for change to happen

  example: StoneWall riots 1969

  -series of spontaneous demonstrations by members of the LGBTQ+ community in response to a police raid

  -other village lesbian and gay bars and neighbourhood street people fought back when he police began being violent

  function?

  started a huge surge in activism for LGBTQ+ rights, begun change in societal norms to accept LGBTQ+ people
• safety valve (function of crime according to Durkheim)?


  definition - some crime is seen as protecting society and family structure

  example: David (1969)

  -prostitution is a way sexually frustrated men can relieve their tensions whilst keeping their family intact

  -Polska argues pornography safely channels a variety of sexual desires
• warning light (function of crime according to Durkheim)?

  definition - when their are several cases of crime and deviance in an area, or patterns in criminality it helps identify potential underlying issues in society.

  example:

  • if theft in pharmacies increase, it can indicate addiction, poverty or health service issues that need to be addressed
  • high absence rates in school could indicate a problem with the education system.
• strength:

  one of the first theories ot acknowledge crime may be beneficial to functions in society. Helps reinforce the standards if right and wring, so when crime is punished, society can be seen as outraged at deviant people.
• weaknesses:

  • people disagree crime can be functional since it is far from functional for victims. Victims are often traumatised or affected in other ways long-term, so it is hard to justify how this can be deemed as functional.
  • no way to determine how much crime is considered functional. if too much crime, social norms and values are abandoned and anomies can occur. Therefore if crime is accepted as functional, it is important to identify how much is functional and how much would turn society dysfunctional.