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Summary A Level Sociology Crime and Deviance - Control, Punishment and Victimisation
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- AQA
A clear summary based on the AQA revision guide of all key theorists and evaluation within this subtopic.
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CRIME PREVENTION, PUNISHMENT AND VICTIMISATION CRIME PREVENTION, PUNISHMENT AND VICTIMISATIONALTERNATIVES TO PRISON CRITICAL VICTIMOLOGY
- In past, major goal was ‘diversion’ – diverting young offenders away - Based on conflict theories such as Marxism and Feminism, focuses on two
from contact with criminal justice system to avoid risk of self-fulfilling elements:
prophecy. o Structural factors = patriarchy and poverty, place powerless groups
- In recent years, growth in range of community-based controls such as such as women and the poor at greater risk of victimisation –
curfews and community service orders. structural powerlessness (MAWBY & WALKLATE)
- COHEN argues growth of community controls has simply cast the net o The state’s power to apply or deny the label of victim = victim is a
of control over more people, increased range of sanctions available social construct – state applies the label of victim to some but
enables control to penetrate ever deeper into society. withholds it from others
CRIME PREVENTION, PUNISHMENT AND VICTIMISATION - TOMBS & WHYTE = safety crimes where employers violations of the law
THE VICTIMS OF CRIME led to injury are often explained as accident prone: as with domestic
- United Nations defines victims as those who have suffered harm violence, man not arrested, denied victim status.
through acts or omissions that violate the laws of the state. - Ideological function of this ‘failure to label’ or ‘de-labelling’ – concealing the
- CHRISTIE states the notion of a ‘victim’ is socially constructed and the extent of victimisation and its real causes – hides the crimes of the
stereotype of the ‘ideal victim’ favoured by the media and CJS is a powerful.
week, innocent, blameless individual who is the target of a stranger’s - In hierarchy of victimisation, powerless are most likely to be victimised
attack. EVALUATION:
Recognises victim status is created by those in power and men
Ignores the role of victim in the crime – did the victim create a situation
CRIME PREVENTION, PUNISHMENT AND VICTIMISATION where crime was more likely to occur e.g., making their home secure
POSITIVIST VICTIMOLOGY
- MIERS defines positivist victimology as having three features: CRIME PREVENTION, PUNISHMENT AND VICTIMISATION
o Aims to identify the factors that produce patterns in victimisation PATTERNS OF VICTIMISATION
o Focuses on interpersonal crimes of violence - CLASS = poorest groups are more likely to be victimised – crime rate
o Aims to identify victims who have contributed to their own highest in areas of high unemployment. NEWBURN study of 300 homeless
victimisation. people were 12 times more likely to have experienced violence than
- Studies focus on ‘victim proneness’ – sought to identify the social and general population.
psychological characteristics of victims that make them different and - ETHNICITY = minority ethnic groups are at greater risk than whites of being
more vulnerable than non-victims. victims of crime in general as well as racially motivated crimes.
- HANS VON HENTIG identified 13 characteristics of victims such as - AGE = younger people more at risk of victimisation – those most risk of
that they are female, elderly or ‘mentally subnormal’ – implication is being murdered are under 1 and teens more prone to assault.
that the victims ‘invite’ victimisation by being the person they are. Also - GENDER = males greater risk – 70% of homicide victims are male however
includes victims who display their wealth. women more likely to be victim of domestic violence
- WOLFGANG studied 588 murders in Philadelphia and found in 26% - REPEAR VICTIMSATION = if you have been a victim once, likely to again.
the victim ‘triggered’ the murder e.g., being first to use violence = victim IMPACT OF VICTIMISATION
precipitation - Crime may have physical and emotional impacts such as disrupted sleep,
EVALUATION feeling helpless and difficulty in social functioning.
BROOKMAN – shows importance of victim – offender relationship - Crime may create indirect victims such as friends and relatives
Identifies some clear patterns of interpersonal victimisation - Hate crimes against minorities may create ‘waves of harm’ that radiate out
Ignores wider reasons for victimisation such as poverty and patriarchy to others
Accused of victim blaming – rape victims ‘asking for it’ (AMIR) - SECONDARY VICTIMISATION = individuals may suffer further
Ignores some people are unaware they are victims as with some victimisation at hands of CJS as well as impact of crime
crimes against the environment, where harm is done but no law - FEAR OF VICTIMISATION = fear is often irrational for example women
broken. scared to go out but males more likely victims.
, CRIME PREVENTION, PUNISHMENT AND VICTIMISATION CRIME PREVENTION, PUNISHMENT AND VICTIMISATION – SOCIOLOGICAL
PUNISHMENT PERSPECTIVES ON PUNISHEMENT
- One measure that many believe to be effective in crime MARXISM: CAPITALISM AND PUNISHEMENT
prevention is punishment, however as it usually involves - Society divided into two classes, ruling class exploits the labour of subordinate
inflicting harms it is justified by the means of reduction and class
retribution. - Function of punishment to maintain the existing social order as part of the
REDUCTION ‘repressive state apparatus’ defending ruling-class property against lower class.
- Preventing future crime - Marxists argues that imprisonment (much like school) reflects a capitalist society
o Deterrence = punishing the individual discourages them for example, strict discipline system involving subordination and loss of freedom
from future offending – also acts as a deterrent to the (MELOSIS & PAVARINI)
public at large THE CHANGING ROLE OF PRISONS
o Rehabilitation = punishment can be used to reform or - Pre-industrial Europe had a wide range of punishments including warnings,
change offenders, so they no longer offend, policies corporal punishment and execution. Until the 18th century, prison was mainly for
include providing education and anger management holding offenders prior to their punishment.
courses for violent offenders IMPRISONMENT TODAY
o Incapacitation = use of punishment to remove offender’s - In liberal democracies that do not have the death penalty, imprisonment is
capacity to offend again - imprisonment, execution etc. regarded as the most severe punishment however has not proved as an effective
RETRIBUTION method of rehabilitation – about 2/3 of prisoners commit further crimes on
- ‘paying back’ – justification for punishing crimes that have release.
already been committed rather than preventing future crimes. - ‘populist punitiveness’ – politicians have sought electoral popularity by calling for
- Society is entitled to take its revenge on the offender – tougher sentences – New Labour 1997 took the view that prison acts as a
expressive rather than instrumental. deterrent. As a result, prison population of England and Wales reached 85,000 in
2016.
CRIME PREVENTION, PUNISHMENT AND VICTIMISATION – - Between 1993 and 2005 numbers of prisoners in England and wales grew 70%
SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES ON PUNISHEMENT - One consequence has been overcrowding, poor sanitation, lack of educational
DURKHEIM: FUNCTIONALIST PERSPECTIVE opportunities and inadequate family visits (CARRABINE)
- function of punishment is to uphold social solidarity and MASS INCARCERATION
reinforce shared values – expresses society’s emotions of - GARLAND – USA & UK moving into an era of mass incarceration with numbers
moral outrage at the offence. rising rapidly.
TWO TYPES OF JUSTICE - Argues systematic imprisonment of whole groups of population such as young
- Retributive justice = traditional society, society based on black males.
solidarity & similar roles – strong collective conscience which - DOWNES argues us prison system soaks up about 30-40% of the unemployed,
when offended responds with vengeful passion to repress thereby making capitalism look more successful.
wrongdoer. Punishment is severe & cruel, motivation purely - GARLAND argues reason for mass incarceration is growing politicisation of crime
expressive. control – penal welfarism = punishment should reintegrate offenders into society
- Restitutive justice = modern society, solidarity based on - However, since 1970s move towards ‘tough on crimes’ policies leading to growing
interdependence between individuals – this is damaged through prison population.
crime, so justice aims to make restitution – restore things to TRANSCARCERATION
how they were before offence and restore society’s equilibrium. - Individuals become locked into a cycle of control, shifting between different
Explores differences in punishment in modern & traditional carceral agencies during their lives e.g., put into care, failed in school system,
societies young offender institution = adult prison = TRANSCARCERATION
Traditional societies had element of restitutive justice e.g., blood - Seen as a product of blurring boundaries between criminal justice and welfare
feuds. agencies for example, health and housing services are increasingly given a crime
Modern society, still an expressive element e.g., public wanted control role.
to see strong punishment for those involved in London riots.
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