Reformist socialists + favour policies to promote equality

Like Marxists – LR dislike inequality of capitalist society + think its cause of crime.

Unlike Marxists – reformist not revolutionary socialists: believe gradual reforms only realistic way to achieve equality.

Marxists believe only future can bring crime-free society, LRs believe we need realistic solutions for reducing now.

 CRITICISMS OF OTHER THEORIES

LRs accuse sociologists of not taking crime seriously:

Traditional Marxists concentrate on crimes of powerful but neglect WC crime and its effects.

Neo-Marxists romanticise WC criminals, whereas in reality mostly victimise other WC people.

Labelling Theorists see criminals as victims of labelling. LR argues neglects real victims.

 TAKING CRIME SERIOUSLY INVOLVES RECOGNISING THAT:

Main victims are disadvantaged groups:

WC, ethnic minorities + women, more likely to be victimised, less likely police take crimes seriously

E.g. Racist + domestic violence

Increase in crime led to aetiological crisis (crisis of explanation). LRs argue increase too great to be explained in theories.

 THE THREE CAUSES OF CRIME (Lea and Young):

RELATIVE DEPRIVATION

When they feel others unfairly have more, may resort to crime to obtain what they feel entitled to.

Cultural inclusion: even poor have access to media’s materialistic messages.

Economic exclusion: lack of opportunities to gain ‘glittering prizes’.

 SUBCULTURE

Group’s solution to problem of relative deprivation

Some Subcultural solutions don’t turn to crime; e.g. some turn to religion to find comfort + may encourage conformity.

Criminal subcultures subscribe to society’s materialistic goals; legitimate opportunities are blocked so resort to crime.

 MARGINALISATION

Unemployed youth are marginalised. No organisation to represent them + no clear goals – sense of powerlessness, resentment and frustration, expressed through criminal means, e.g. Violence and rioting.

 LATE MODERNITY AND CRIME

Young (2002) argues that in late modern society (since 70s), problem of WC crime worse due to:

·         Harsher welfare policies, increased unemployment, job insecurity, poverty.

·         Destabilisation of family + community life, weakening informal social controls

 OTHER CHANGES IN LATE MODERNITY:

Crime now found throughout society, not just bottom.

Resentment at undeservedly high rewards, e.g. Footballers or bankers

Less consensus about what is acceptable + not behaviour, informal controls less effective as families + communities disintegrate.

Public less tolerant + demand harsher formal controls by state.

Late modern society high crime society with low tolerance for crime

 SOLUTIONS TO CRIME

Their solution involves two policies:

·         Democratic policing

Lea & Young argue police rely on public for info, losing public support, flow of info dries up + must rely on military policing

E.g. swamping area.

To win public support, police must become more accountable to local communities by involving them in deciding policies + priorities.

Crime control must involve multi-agency approach e.g. Social services, housing departments, schools, not just police.

·         Reducing Inequality

Main solution = remove social inequality.