Right Realism

• Realism


  James Q.Wilson - founder - argue that abstract concepts of crime don't think about the victims, and traditional models of crime don't reduce crime or help make policy.
• Biology as a cause

  HB Glass argued that men with XYY chromosomes are likely to be 'sex deviants' because of the extra Y. Some right realists think some people are more likely to commit crime because of a criminal gene, chromosomes, or racial differences
• Rational Choice Theory


  People commit crime because they have the chance to do it, and 'soft' punishments don't work as deterrent. Cornish and Clarke argue criminals weigh up costs and benefits before committing crimes. Says we must increase the cost to offenders with harsher punishments, higher conviction rates and reduce the opportunity to offend.
• Examples


  NYPD cracked down on 'squeegee men' and found 50% had outstanding warrants or were wanted.
• Evaluations


  Ignores structural problems

  • Other theories say crime happens because of structures

  Ignores victims

  • Focussed exclusively on perpetrators and doesn't explain why certain groups are likely to be victims.