TO BE ABLE TO DESCRIBE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM OF CRIME

SOLUTIONS TO CRIME

Right realism / new right

TO BE ABLE TO DESCRIBE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM OF CRIME

STARTER Read section in text book – page: 38

Discussion p.40 task

TO BE ABLE TO DESCRIBE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM OF CRIME

1.ZERO TOLERANCE.  The right realists suggest one solution to

crime is based on the THEORY OF BROKEN WINDOWS (George Kelling and James

Wilson, 1983). This theory is based on their observation that as soon as a window is broken in a disused building others are smashed. Then the building and surrounding area become a focus of further acts of crime and deviance.

According to this theory, there is a link between disorder and crime. The theory suggests that visible signs of decay - litter, broken windows, graffiti, abandoned housing are all signs of public disinterest.

Fear of crime is greatest in these neighbourhoods, which prompts 'respectable' community members to leave.

This undermines the community's ability to maintain order and decline follows.

TO BE ABLE TO DESCRIBE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM OF CRIME

The reasoning that it is easier to prevent a neighbourhood's slide into crime than trying to rescue it. The theory demands that even minor misdemeanors must be pursued with the same vigor as serious crimes

TO BE ABLE TO DESCRIBE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM OF CRIME

Therefore right realists suggest that stopping minor acts of crime will reduce more serious crime. As a result the theory of broken windows has led to the right realist solution of crime known as ZERO TOLERANCE

The policy implications were that the government should find ways of strengthening local communities to 'fight' crime and antisocial behaviour. The ways chosen have been to introduce a range of legal powers through which the police and local authorities can issue antisocial behaviour orders, curfews, street drinking bans and dispersal orders (where you must leave a designated area of a town if a police officer tells you to do so). Exactly what is. to be targeted as 'antisocial behaviour' depends upon local crime and antisocial perception surveys that local authorities have to carry out.

TO BE ABLE TO DESCRIBE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM OF CRIME

DOES IT WORK? Figures for New York: since 1993, major

crime in that city has fallen by 39% and murder has fallen by 49%.

TO BE ABLE TO DESCRIBE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM OF CRIME

CRITICISMS OF ZERO TOLERANCE

There are negative consequences of aggressive policing with accusations of heavy-handedness by police

There are other reasons for falling crime in New York. Fewer take violence-inducing crack cocaine while many of those responsible for committing crimes in the 1980s are now in prison

Crime has also fallen in areas without zero tolerance policing

The long-term effects are unknown. It works well in densely populated areas with high policing levels and large amounts of petty crime. But where the population is dispersed or the crime rate is low, it may have little effect. And in areas of high racial tension, the policy might leave locals feeling victimised.

TO BE ABLE TO DESCRIBE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM OF CRIME

ANTI – SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR ORDERS  Labour introduced Anti- Social Behaviour

Orders (ASBO’s) to combat minor acts of criminality and to give people the confidence to challenge delinquent youth. This also reflects another way in which a zero tolerance approach has been taken in the UK.

Evaluate?

TO BE ABLE TO DESCRIBE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM OF CRIME

2. INCARCERATION The right realists also offer INCARCERATION (imprisonment)

as another solution to crime. The right realists argue that the punishments for offences lack clarity, regardless of this, they believe that prison works. They believe that criminals make a rational calculation about whether a crime is worth committing.

Therefore if the punishment is a prison sentence this would act as a deterrent in the calculation made by criminals, and as a result less crime would be committed.

  In the USA a policy of ‘three strikes’ was introduced as a

clear message to anyone thinking of committing a crime. ‘Three strikes’ means that on an individual’s third offence they would be sent to prison for a lengthy term – regardless of the nature of the crime committed. 

For example in California those who have stolen golf clubs or pizza have been sentenced to between 25 years to life if they had previous convictions (of a serious nature).

TO BE ABLE TO DESCRIBE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM OF CRIME

3. MORE VISIBLE POLICING The right realists also believe in greater

funding for the police for more visible policing. They believe that this will make it more likely that criminals believe they will get caught. The introduction of CCTV into many areas is designed to make criminals think that they will be caught and thus helps to act as a deterrent, as well as improving the chances of catching those who do commit crime.

TO BE ABLE TO DESCRIBE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM OF CRIME

4. RETRIBUTION Right realists believe in retribution - ‘an eye for an

eye, a tooth for a tooth’. For example a murderer deserves to be executed. Retributive justice is a theory of justice that considers that punishment, if proportionate, is a morally acceptable response to crime. It also advocates how punishment can be beneficial to the aggrieved party (victim).

Link to government policy: in the 1991 Criminal Justice Act in the UK attempted to grade punishments into 3 groups- on the basis of their seriousness – thus reflecting retributive justice in action.

Many in the Conservative Party are actively campaigning for the death sentence in the UK – this is based on the right realist perspective on retribution.

TO BE ABLE TO DESCRIBE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM OF CRIME

EVALUATION OF RIGHT REALISM The theory has produced many practical solutions to the issue of

crime: zero tolerance, CCTV use. This is a positive evaluation point. However: The right realists tend to ignore crime that develops as a

consequence of poverty and deprivation (i.e. reason behind crime according to LEFT realists).

Some of the solutions to crime advocated by the right are considered to be useless. For example CCTV simply moves the problem of crime to locations where fewer cameras are situated. For example young people may view ASBO’s as a badge of honour – not a punishment.

The move towards a surveillance society (as suggested by the right realists) is of concern to some who believe this leads to a loss of privacy.

The right realists have little to offer in terms of solutions to corporate crime and domestic abuse.

If retribution is to be a useful and workable concept then equivalence needs to be established - if the act of murderer ‘deserves’ to be killed then what is the proportionate punishment for shoplifting? This is virtually impossible to identify.

TO BE ABLE TO DESCRIBE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM OF CRIME

Today’s task:

Create revision cards/ sheet to consolidate solutions to crime : left realist

Homework

1. Read the section in the text book on right realism & add to your notes from this ppt.

2. Finish your revision task