In every society, some people are inadequately socialised
Society is made up of different subcultures with different norms
Anomie
Shared rules become unclear and weak
Too little crime
Society doesn't grow
Too much crime
Society's norms/values would break down
If crime is too low or too high, it cannot serve its purpose
We can use crime and punishment as means for social reform
4 functions of crime
Social change
Boundary maintenance
Safety valve
Warning light
Social change
Some crimes start surges in activism (LGBTQ)
For society to grow, norms/values need to be challenged
Example: BLM and the murder of George Floyd
Boundary maintenance
Some crime brings community together, social cohesion, cooperation, uniting the community
Reaction unites people against the wrongdoers and reinforces shared norms/values which strengthens society
Example: Shannon Mathews kidnapping
Safety valve
Deviance acts as a safety valve for society - it maintains family structures
Example: Prostitution releases men's sexual tension and reduces cheating/sexual offences
Warning light
Deviance would indicate a problem with society
Example: Illegal immigration
Strength of Durkheim's structural theory
It was one of the first theories to acknowledge that crime may serve beneficial functions in society, e.g. reinforcing standards of right and wrong
Limitation of Durkheim's structural theory
There is no way to determine how much crime is considered functional, as too much crime and deviance can lead to anomie and society becoming dysfunctional
