Radical Criminology Essay - 2456 Words

Criminal law involves prosecution by the state of a person for an act that has been classified as a crime (Criminal law, 2010). But who gets to decide what acts are criminal? It should be no surprise that the individuals with the most power do. For radical criminologists, the problem arises in capitalist societies because it is in these societies where the means of production are owned privately by a small number of people. Based on the writings of Karl Marx, radical criminologists argue that the state works to serve the interests of the capitalist ruling class and that criminal law is merely an instrument of that class to keep all other classes in a disadvantage position (Young et al.,1973; Quinney, 1980). Named the elites, bourgeois, or†¦show more content†¦But how accurate is that statement? Street crime is without a doubt a true threat to our well being and should not be taken lightly. Robbers, murders, and rapists should be accountable to the law swiftly and forcefully, yet at the same time those who violate civil liberties, health and safety standards, pollute the air we breathe, and create conditions of poverty are also culprits of crime and should be held to the same standard (Quinney, 1980; Pearce, 1998). Edwin Sutherland (1940) defined white collar crime as one â€Å"committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of his occupation.† He went on to also include crimes committed by corporations and other legal entities to fit into his definition. It is crimes committed by these people that pose the greatest danger to society, yet they are not labeled as crime because it would threaten the status quo. Jeffrey Reiman (1996) in The Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Prison illustrates the disparities in the number of deaths between street crime (murder) and white collar crime. He notes that white-collar crimes kills and injure far more people than street crimes. Updated 2009 statistics confirm his findings. The Federal Bureau of Investigation revealed that 15,241 individuals were murdered nationwide last year, while the Centers for Disease Control estimated that approximately 20,000 cancer deaths and 40,000 new cases of cancerShow MoreRelatedSocial Reaction Theory And Feminist Theory Of Crimes1476 Words   |  6 Pagesoffending as a function of gender role socialization as they had fewer opportunities to even engage in deviance. Another major feminist viewpoint is radical feminism which accentuates that many societies are male dominated and it is the root cause of women s oppression. Radical feminists focus on demonstrating patriarchy in crimes against women. Similar to radical femin ism, there is Marxist feminism which theorizes that women s subordinate class status may compel them to commit crime as a means of supportingRead MoreFeminism : A Feminist Perspective2541 Words   |  11 PagesSpecifically, women fight to be treated with respect and equality in criminal justice and law enforcement careers. Criminology in particular is one of the most male centered fields of study in social sciences. As a female who plans to one day hold a career in this field, this issue is very personal to me. In 1960, Canada and Britain began interest in the argument that women are ignored in criminology. After this, the second wave of feminism interest came mid-twentieth century. This wave led to renewed interestRead MoreCriminology1427 Words   |  6 Pages2005) Criminology 211 Essay This essay topic consists of two main components. The first requires you to demonstrate your knowledge of and a familiarity with the theory/perspective and the second requires you to demonstrate an understanding of its application (in either policy or practice) and the impact of its application. i)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Briefly identify the main features and concepts of radical criminology. ii)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Critically discuss the ways in which the various radical perspectivesRead MoreFeminism : A Feminist Perspective1168 Words   |  5 Pagesabout feminist theory throughout my undergraduate and Master’s degree. I have been taught that there are six main frameworks that emerge from feminist theory including: (1) postmodern feminism; (2) liberal feminism; (3) critical race feminism; (4) radical feminism; (5) traditional Marxist feminism; (6) and socialist feminism. Each standpoint of feminism provides a unique way of including the experiences of women in society (oppression, discrimination, inequality). While there are distinct branchesRead MoreDescribe the Basis of Feminist Criminology1013 Words   |  5 PagesThe Basis Of Feminist Criminology Feminist criminology was created out of the realization that criminology from its beginnings focused on the male criminal and the unlawful acts they committed. When in the fact it could be argued female crime was studied as far back as 1800s, female criminal activity, its causes and the effects in which it placed on public opinion were often disregarded. Over the past 20 years, there has been a significantly different approach in how females are being dealt withRead More3 Key Differences between Orthodox and Critical Criminologies762 Words   |  3 PagesChapter 1: What are 3 key differences between orthodox and critical criminologies? Use examples of readings that reflect both criminologies to illustrate your response. Orthodox criminology refers to the how criminologists accept the states ideas of crime without thinking of power relations. This thinking is shared by everyone and becomes a universal idea and these ideas are in the interests of everyone. However, certain groups of individuals are targeted and blamed for crimes based on their classRead MoreDiscuss the Nature, Scope and Objectives of the Study of Criminology.1359 Words   |  6 PagesDiscuss the nature, scope and objectives of the study of Criminology. Crime has always accompanied mankind. The oldest order available to us today, like provided in the cave paintings in France and the old books as the Bible show that this was not a stranger to us hundreds or even thousands of years ago. We can even with these materials to draw a conclusion that the development of civilization has contributed to its creation. The formation of increasingly larger clusters of human foster the developmentRead MoreComparing Positivist And Radical Victimology Perspective1236 Words   |  5 Pages Compare the positivist victimology perspective with either the radical or critical victimology perspective. Illustrate your answer with reference to at least one of following: age, class, gender, race and sexuality. Introduction The purpose of this essay is to demonstrate the different perspectives within victimology, specifically focusing on positivist and radical victimology perspectives. In arguing these similar but contrasting perspectives this essay will also signpost the relationship of theRead MoreTheory Of Peacemaking Criminology1732 Words   |  7 Pageswithin the criminology discipline in the late 20th century. As this segment progress, the readers will become acquainted with the historical background of peacemaking, proponents of the theory, and explanations as to what is peacemaking, expanding on restorative justice, a form of peacemaking criminology and finally conclude this section with critiques and discussion on peacemaking criminology as discussed during the class presentation. Peacemaking criminology grew out of the conflict and radical theoriesRead More The Consensus Perspective1054 Words   |  5 Pagessignificantly different view of society as relative to the law. However, while they a ll aim to the same exact purpose which is to help us understand crimes from a social viewpoint, the consensus perspective is more effective as it presents a more radical and logical view of how society interacts with the law. For instance, the consensus view focuses more on norms, unification, and equality. At the same time, it questions individuals ‘self-control as causes of crime. As Michalowski described it, most