Social Class And Crime And Punishment Essay - 2193 Words

Social class and crime and punishment has always been an issue in the UK if not globally. For the elite, the criminal justice system serves a purpose to deter and prevent crime, but the reality is that the poor are punished for crimes they commit more so than those of a upper class who commit the same crime. The question is who is to blame for this image of the poor being criminals and the working class crime phenomenon, is it the moral Panic created by the media to distract from the reality of the white collar corporate crime being carried out by the most powerful of society or is it down to Poverty, Labelling, economic and social positioning which all contribute to deviant behaviour. The aim of this essay is to provide a critical criminological view of the punishment of the poor with a wide range of theories and ideas to contribute to the understanding of the poor being punished from the 18th century to today s contemporary society. It will aim to develop an understanding how crimi nals and deviant behaviour were defined and perceived from historical periods to now. â€Å"Classical Criminology was developed in the eighteenth century in opposition to the use of extreme and arbitrary punishments. Classical Criminology advocated a rational approach that punishment ought to be imposed only to the extent necessary to ensure a deterrent.† (Rowe, 2012: 191) For critical criminology, the thought process of criminological thinking is believed to be traced back to as early asShow MoreRelatedA Perfect World, Economic Inequality1337 Words   |  6 Pagesdeviated from based on a person’s zip code. If within this perfect world crime did exist, the ramifications of criminal acts would be blind to race, wealth, or family name. Unfortunately, the illustration of a perfect world is far from it, it’s nonexistent. The world we live in today is full of disparities. There are special rules and special laws for certain people especially when it comes to crime and punishment. Everyone is not created equal. Society looks up to the wealthy and frownRead MoreConflict Theory : Conflict Criminology, And Sociology799 Words   |  4 Pagescriminologists began to study the social conditions of the U.S. which promoted class conflict and crime. This paper will discuss how conflict theory relates to both criminology and sociology, how politics play a role in conflict theory, and how politics influence crime rates of the lower class. Also, this paper will evaluate various sociological schools of crime causation. â€Å"Conflict theory is the view that human behavior is shaped by interpersonal conflict and those who maintain social power will use it to furtherRead MoreSocial Punishment And Its Impact On Society Essay1628 Words   |  7 PagesThroughout time, the use of punishment has changed drastically. Not only has the actual infliction of punishment changed, the reasoning behind this punishment has also changed. There have been numerous scholars, educators, and researchers that have presented various theories on the reasoning behind societal punishment. Some of these theories are closely similar, however some are drastically different. It is important to note that these theorists have broad perceptions that can be rooted back to specificRead MoreSociological Perspective Of Punishment Is Economic Determinism And Class Interest1459 Words   |  6 PagesSociological perspective of punishment. [online] http://www.umass.edu/legal/Benavides/Fall2005/397G/Readings%20Legal%20397%20G/8%20David%20 Garland.pdf. Available at: http://www.umass.edu/legal/Benavides/Fall2005/397G/Readings%20Legal%20397%20G/8%20David%20Garland.pdf [Accessed 20 Apr. 2015]. The second justification for punishment are economic determinism and class interest. Marxist see punishment in relation to the economic structure of society in which it takes place and to the class system, which as aRead MoreTheories Of Crime : Strain, Social Control And Life Course1082 Words   |  5 PagesChapter 7: Radicalizing Orthodox Theories of Crime: Strain, Social Control and Life Course Strain theory is described as the cause of crime due to the social class or environment in which a person grows up in. In our society, people strive to obtain wealth, education, materialistic possessions and power. Due to the environment lower social class people are born into, they are unable to obtain these aspirations through legal means. Feelings of frustration lead to strain and can cause these peopleRead MoreDeterrence, Incapacitation, And Rehabilitation : Explain How The Severity Of Punishment Can Potentially Deter Criminal Behavior1164 Words   |  5 PagesExplain how the severity of punishment, the certainty of punishment, and the promptness of punishment can potentially deter criminal behavior. Is one more important than the other? Why or why not? Severe punishments, such as long stints in prison and the death penalty, are designed to pose as threats or warnings to those who consider committing a crime. It also seems that, theoretically, more severe punishments, such as longer prison sentences, would help deter crime at least by keeping the offenderRead MoreTimmers Definition of Law1201 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Timmer’s Definition of Crime â€Å"A definition of crime represents the legal conditions under which the state, as an instrument of an economically dominant class, exercises its power to punish.† I feel that the state maintains the capitalist order through laws. Primarily, control is done through the governing of consciousness of the population. The ruling class gives rise to their own ideology to protect themselves. Capitalism’s most subtle means of control is to try and manipulate the minds ofRead MoreEssay on Durkheim and Marx Theories Applied to Drug Laws847 Words   |  4 PagesAll societies have rules and regulations as well as penalties for those who violate them. There are numerous theories about the philosophy behind these laws and punishments, and the reasons we implement them. A short analysis of two of these perspectives can shed light on the differences between the various ideas while illustrating that, in reality, each theory carries some validity. Emile Durkheim and Karl Marx’s perspectives on the law are significantly different. Durkheim’s view is based uponRead MoreCritical Theories Of Criminology903 Words   |  4 Pagesmoreover, the different social statuses of individuals. This theory compares the differences in white collar crime to the crime of the blue collar class. White collar crime is mostly money-related crimes, including embezzlement, committed by the economically elite, conversely, blue collar crime is considered more violent as well as theft related committed by what could be referred to as the average working class citizen. This theory displays the drastic inequality of punishment for the same offensesRead MoreThe Reform Of Hammurabi s Code896 Words   |  4 Pagesleads to the stratification of social classes and mistreatment of minorities, among others. The establishment of Hammurabi’s code helped bring order and equality into society through the attempt to implement a moral standard. A n eye for an eye is a fair punishment for the committed crime. But not all of Hammurabi’s codes follow suit. The codes enforced the social stratification that was already in place in Babylonia, intensifying the division between the various social groups. Although Hammurabi’s