cloward + ohlin

• looked at geographical areas and identified that there were different opportunities to commit crimes
• identifies subcultures:

  • criminal
  • conflict
  • retreatist
• criminal subcultures:

  • found in areas where there was an existing structure of criminal behaviour
  • dealt with mostly utilitarian forms of crime e.g. prostitution, drug dealing
  • young men were apprenticed into crime by being employed in low level positions e.g. running errands
  • those who displayed the right attitudes were most likely to progress through the organisation as positions became vacant
  • this offered opportunities to achieve status and financial resources in a different way to mainstream society
• conflict:

  • developed in areas of transition with no organised structure of criminal behaviour
  • areas of transition where people moved in and out, which meant that community bonds weren't strong in conflict subcultures
  • areas had a diverse mix of backgrounds where people identified with different gangs and to clashes with gangs over turfs
  • this was a form of relief from the frustration of not being able to achieve success via legitimate means
  • status was awarded for violent and criminal acts towards members of other gangs
  • e.g. American gangland violence from 1950s onwards
• retreatist:

  • individuals who retreat from social integration as a result of not fitting into social norms nor having access to other forms of status
  • individuals delve into petty crimes, substance abuse as a way of escaping the rejection from society
  • some may engage with others from different subcultures, such as criminal ones to get drugs
  • there is no opportunity for status in other gangs
  • individuals from retreatist subcultures can be referred to as double failures as they fail to achieve via both legitimate and illegitimate means