right realism

• Right realists argue


  its important to maintain order for society

  theory is aimed at explaining crime in order to find practical ways to combat it
• it emphasises


  individual moral responsibility rejecting the idea crime can be explained in terms of structural causes
• Right realism focuses


  on the role of the individual and law enforcement agencies
• Street crime


  takes place in public places like mugging
• right realists see street crime

  as a growing problem and believe other theories have failed to solve the problem of crime
• Reject structural and economic factors


  Believe in biological differences, rational choice and inadequate socialisation
• Personality traits


  aggression

  risk taking

  low IQ
• Warrior gene


  Gene that predisposes a person to being more violent

  was used 2x as defense to murder and was introduced as a mitigating factor in sentences
• Informal Social Control


  Public shaming

  Loss of status
• Zero Tolerance


  removing discretion from police to deal flexibility with minor offences
• Wilson and Kelling - Broken Windows

  To maintain informal social controls and clamp down on the first sign of undesirable behaviour

  this means law abiding citizens will feel safe
• Cohen and Felson - Routine Activities

  Most crime is opportunistic and needs 3 conditions to occur

  Individuals must be motivated to offend

  Lack capable guardians that could prevent such behaviour

  The availability of opportunity and targets
• Charles Murray and the underclass


  Changes in the family structure has lead to an increase in crime

  the welfare state now makes it economically viable to be a single parent producing an underclass.
• What encourages welfare dependency

  young men often don't take responsibility for their child or support them
• Welfare dependency


  People get used to relying on the state for support and have little incentive to earn their own living
• Young men turn to crime

  to supplement their income as they find they cannot fully fund the lifestyle they would like
• Children lack a male role model

  they're more influenced by peer groups who are often involved in delinquent and criminal behavior
• Likely to end up on benefits


  children in the underclass as they're inadequately socialised into respecting the law
• right realism negative evaluation

  - little evidence broken windows increase crime

  - lack of investment is a more important factor in whether a neighborhood declines

  - concentration on minor offenders may mean neglection of more serious crimes
• right realism positive evaluation


  evidence to support zero tolerance

  the rapid fall in crime in New York when zero tolerance was applied