Right realist theories of crime + deviance

• Main differences between consensus theories, marxism etc + realist criminology

  • Not interested in looking at 'deep structural causes' like capitalism as its not criminologists job to get rid of it
  • More pragmatic - asks how govts can reduce crime
  • Takes a more victim-centered approach - puts victims + public's concern about crime at the centre of policy making
• Overview of right realists

  • Associated with right wing neoliberal govt of Thatcher
  • Sees the individual as the main cause of the crime
  • Argues that we need to get tough on criminals to reduce crime
• Overview of left realists

  • More left wing
  • Argues that inequality is the main cause of crime
  • More community interventions needed to reduce crime
• Causes of crime according to right realists

  • Rational choice theory
  • Routine activities theory
  • Broken windows theory
  • Underclass theory
• Rational choice theory (right) - explanation

  • States most criminals are rational actors - if rewards of committing the crime outweigh the punishment or risks of being caught, they'll do the crime
  • Theory predicts crime will increase if crime generates great rewards and/or if there's little risk of being caught
• Routine activities theory (right) explanation

  • Theorists - Cohen + Felson
  • Crime needs 3 conditions to take place - motivation to offend, availability of opportunities + targets, lack of capable guardians (parents or police) who can prevent crime
  • Sees crime as opportunity based rather than planned
  • Crime more likely to occur if offenders find opportunities in their typical routine activities
• Criticism of rational choice theory

  • Treats the individual as acting in the moment alone, not taking social background or social injustice factors into account
• Broken windows theory - explanation

  • Theorists - Wilson + Kelling
  • Crime is highest in areas where there are high levels of social disorder - low social control + minor deviant acts often unpunished so can quickly turn more serious
  • Members of the community feel intimidated + powerless
  • Police only concerned with serious crime not petty behaviour as it's seen as typical for the area
• Underclass theory (right) - explanation

  • Theorist - Murray
  • Changes in family structure contributed to the great increase of crime in 1970s-80s
  • Underclass emerged characterised by high teen pregnancy, living off benefits, single parent
  • Parents fail to socialise kids properly
  • Boys with no fathers lack discipline
• Right realism - crime control strategies

  • Situational crime prevention - Increasing surveillance of locations - Stems from idea of rational choice theory by decreasing opportunity - CCTV in shops, locks on windows
  • Environmental crime prevention - changing area in which crime occurs - increasing control like street drinking bans
  • Zero tolerance policing - enforcing penalties even for minor crimes like drug possession
• Criticisms of situational crime prevention

  • Leads to crime displacement, offenders move to easier target areas
  • Ignores factors like deprivation as a cause of crime
  • This prevention may increase inequalities - fortress cities - wealthy can afford security but the poor are less protected
  • May increase crime as some offenders are motivated by the risk
• Criticisms of environmental crime prevention

  • Study found zero tolerance policies reduced crime however it was later found that this correlation was just a coincidence
  • More expensive than situational prevention - takes a lot of police to patrol an area
  • Reiner - police better off focusing on serious crimes than minor anti-social behaviour
  • Interactionism - more power to police will lead to labelling