left realists

• left realists

  • crime is a real problem for ordinary people
  • argues rising crime rate can't solely be explained by crime statistics but are less critical of them
  • focus on individuals and disadvantaged groups who are at greater risk of being a victim
  • 3 causes of crime
• cause - relative deprivation

  • how deprived someone feels in relation to others + their expectations
  • leads to crime when people resent others for having more and resort to crime to obtain what they want
  • people are now better off but more aware of relative deprivation because of media and advertising
• cause - subcultures

  • a groups collective response to being relatively deprived
  • accept values of wealth etc but legitimate opportunities are blocked so they resort to street crime
• cause - marginalisation

  • process where certain groups find themselves on the edge of society e.g young black men face marginalisation through prejudice such as militant policing
  • express frustration through criminal means e.g riots because they're powerless in society
• cause - the policing problem

  • police clear up rates are too low, suggest they're loosing public support (proof blm protests)
  • they often resort to militant policing e.g stop and search as a method of solving crime
  • alienates the community from them and the public loose trust
  • creates a vicious cycle where the public no longer give police vital information
• solution - tackling structural causes

  • main solution
  • deal with inequality of opportunities
  • tackle discrimination
  • provide decent jobs, homes and community facilities
• solution - government policy

  • left realists have had influence on gov policy, views are similar to new labour "tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime" stance
  • new labours firmer approach to policing hate crimes and sexual assaults reflects left realist concern to protect vulnerable groups from crime
• evaluation

  • focuses on victims as well as offenders
  • interactionists : criticise the use of victim surveys, doesn't explain motives
  • marxists : doesn't explain corporate crime as ruling class don't experience relative deprivation or marginalisation