CRIME AND DEVIANCE

MARXIST THEORIES

Marxism is a structural theory and sees society as being divided into two classes: the bourgeoisie (the ruling upper class) and the proletariats (the working class). They believe the bourgeoisie exploit and alienate the proletariats for their gain in profit.

Their view of crime has 3 main elements…

For Marxists, crime is inevitable because capitalism is criminogenic (by it’s very nature it causes crime).Capitalism gives rise to crime…Poverty can mean crime is the only way the

working class can surviveCrime could be the only way of them

obtaining consumer goods which are encouraged through capitalist advertising

Alienation and lack of control leads to frustration and aggression resulting in non-utilitarian crime.

CRIMINOGENIC CAPITALISM

However, crime is not confined to the working class. Capitalism is a ‘dog eat dog’ system of ruthless competition amongst capitalists; the profit motive encourages a mentality of greed. The need to win leads to them committing white collar crime (for example fraud).

Gordon argues that crime is a rational response to the capitalist system so it is found in all social classes.

Marxists argue that law making and law enforcement serve the bourgeoisie. Chambliss says laws that protect property are the cornerstone of the capitalist economy. He illustrates this with the introduction of English law into our East African colonies. To force the African population to work for the British, they introduced tax only payable by cash. Of course, to earn the cash, you had to work, and if you didn’t pay, you were seen as a criminal. This served the needs of the capitalists.

THE STATE AND LAW MAKING

Furthermore, the bourgeoisie can prevent laws that could pose a threat to their interest.Snider argues that the capitalist state is reluctant to pass laws that regulate the activities of businesses or their profitability.

Although all classes commit crime, there is selective enforcement when it comes to applying the law on behalf of the criminal justice system. Crimes of the powerful are ignored.

Reimans book shows that the more likely a crime is to be committed by the upper class, the less likely it is to be treated as a criminal act. There is a less forgiving view of street crime than upper class crime.

Selective Enforcement

The law, crime and criminals all perform an ideological function for capitalism. But, laws are occasionally passed that appear to benefit the working class.

Pearce says such laws often benefit the ruling class too. For example, keeping workers fit for work gives a false impression of ‘caring’ of the capitalist.

Carson found all 200 firms in his study had broken health and safety regulations, but only 1.5% of cases resulted in prosecution.

Ideological Functions of Crime and Law

Furthermore, because the state enforces law selectively, crime appears to be widely amongst the working class. This divides the working class by encouraging them to blame criminals over capitalism. Also, the media portraying criminals as disturbed conceals capitalism.

This view offers a useful explanation of the relationship between crime and capitalism – it puts into wider structural context the insights of labelling theory regarding selective enforcement.

Slapper and Thomas say corporate crime is uner policed and regularly forgiven. This encourages companies to make use of crime as a means of making profit.

Evaluation

Ignores the link between crime and gender/ethnicity

Too deterministic (not all of the working class commit crime)

Not all capitalist societies have high crime rates (this could be due to no state welfare provision)

The criminal justice system can act against capitalism

Left realists argue they ignore ‘intra class’ crime (both criminals and victims are working class)

Criticisms

Taylor, Walton and Young agree with Marxists that…Capitalist society is based on exploitation and

class conflict which is characterised by inequalities of wealth and power – understanding this is understanding crime.

The state makes and enforces laws in the interest of capitalism and criminalises the working class.

A classless society is needed to reduce/abolish crime.

Neo-Marxism: Critical Criminology

Taylor et al argue that traditional Marxism is deterministic. They say that crime is a meaningful action and conscious choice by the actor. This is a ‘voluntaristic view’. They think crime has a political motive – criminals strive to change society.

Although they want a classless society, they emphasise the importance of individual liberty and diversity. We should be free to live our lives as we wish, and not be labelled.

Anti-Determinism

This theory has two main sources:Traditional Marxist ideas about the unequal

distribution of wealth and who makes/enforces the law.

Interactionalists/labelling ideas about the meaning of the deviant act for the actor, societal reactions and the effects of a label.

A Fully Social Theory of Deviance

Wider origins of the deviant act (wealth and power)

Immediate origins (context in which it was committed)

The act itself (meaning for the actor)Immediate origins of societal reaction (police,

family, community)Wider origins of societal reaction (capitalism,

power)The effects of labelling (on the actors future)

It unites six aspects…

Feminists say this theory is ‘gender bias’ and focuses on male criminality at the expense of female criminality.

Left realists say it romanticises working class criminals as ‘Robin Hoods’, when they actually prey on the poor.

It ignores the effects on working class victims.

Hopkins Burke says it is too general to explain crime and too idealistic to be useful in tackling crime.

Criticisms

Since their book, Taylor et al have changed their views. Nevertheless, Walton and Young still defend some of it’s aspects…The book combatted the ‘correctionalist bias’

in most existing theoriesIt laid some foundations for later radical

approaches