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Crime and criminal Justice

6 important questions on Crime and criminal Justice

Symbolic interactionism on Crime

E.g. With white boys on school, saints and roughnecks. Saints had more crimes but people thought they would accomplish well in life, the opposite with the roughnecks. They see what they already believed. If you are very respectful to the police, they will most likely reduce your sentence. Don't trust statistics because obviously certain groups have higher rates because of named above.
social class influences the reactions of authorities

What are illegitimate opportunity structures:

Opportunities woven into the structure of life in urban slams, robberies, drug-dealing. The hustler becomes a model for young kids. As this model comes close to material succes to the mainstream cultural sterotype

How do functionalists view crime:

Functionalists view property crime as inherent in societies that socialize people of all social classes to desire material success when the legitimate means to achieve success are limited. Some who find their means to achieve success blocked turn to illegitimate means. Since there is no ending point of “success,” some people, like Stewart,Stanford, and Madoff, who have ample access to legitimate means, turn to illegitimate means so they can achieve even more success.

What do conflict theorists say about the criminal justice system

It is not a system for justice but rather a device used by the powerful to keep themselves in power. This power elite uses law enforcement to control workers, mask injustice and prevent revolt

What is white collar crime:

Crimes committed by people of respectable and high social status in the course of their occupation.

Explain the 4 policies that are being used now for dealing with crime

1. Retribution (vergelding): punish criminals to show others that is it not tolerated. E.g. Public shaming.
A form of retribution is restitution (teruggave) paying the victim back.

2. Deterrence: purpose is to make people afraid of the punishment > won't commit crime.

3. Rehabilitation: resocialize offenders

4. Incapacitation: putting in jail.

The question on the page originate from the summary of the following study material:

Social Problems: a down to earth approach | 9781292039862 | James M Henslin

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