CRIME AND DEVIANCE (1) - MARXISM

CRIMOGENIC CAPITALISM

GORDON

crime is inevitable; a built in, natural part of capitalist society

exploitation of the w-c gives rise to crime in a few ways

poverty - crime is the only way to survive for the w-c

crime is the only way to obtain advertised consumer goods (utilitarian)

alienation/ lack of control -> frustration, aggression, non-utilitarian crimes

crime also extends to upper classes, with a 'dog eat dog' system, fuelled by greed and self-interest, which explains white-collar/ corporate crime

LAW CREATION

CHAMBLISS

laws are created to protect private property instead of interests of lower classes; upper classes are put at priority

BOX

'serious crime' is a social construction, identified by w-c crimes, rather than much more major upper class crimes

upper class crimes that are more harmful aren't targeted like crimes of the w-c; agencies of social control protect ruling class interests and criminalise their opposition

SELECTIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT

GORDON

disproportionate prosecution of w-c reinforces ruling class ideology

w-c crime doesn't do much damage in long-term but are still prosecuted harshly, while upper class crimes are ignored

media also overreport w-c crime, acting as diversion from their exploitation, + adds to ideologies of their social class

EVALUATION

deterministic - overpredicts w-c crime

not all capitalist societies have high crime rates

cjs do prosecute upper class | MARXIST CRITIQUE: the few upper class crimes that do get prosecuted is only done to suggest cjs isn't impartial

ignores relationship between crime + non-class inequalities (e.g. racism)