Chapter 7 Deviance and Crime

Chapter Outline What Is Deviance? Functionalist Perspectives on Deviance Symbolic Interactionist Perspectives on Deviance Conflict Perspectives on Deviance Postmodernist Perspectives on Deviance

Chapter Outline Crime Classifications and Statistics The Criminal Justice System Deviance and Crime in the U.S. in the Future The Global Criminal Economy

Deviance Any behavior, belief, or condition that violates social norms in the society or group in which it occurs: drinking too much robbing a bank laughing at a funeral

Question I believe that underage drinking is an important social problem in our society. Strongly agree Agree somewhat Unsure Disagree somewhat Strongly disagree

How Much Do You Know About Peer Cliques, Youth Gangs,and Deviance? True or False? Street crime has a much higher economic cost to society than crimes committed in executive suites or by government officials.

How Much Do You Know About Peer Cliques, Youth Gangs,and Deviance? False Although street crime—such as assault and robbery—often has a greater psychological cost, crimes committed by persons in top positions in business or government have a far greater economic cost, especially for U.S. taxpayers.

How Much Do You Know About Peer Cliques, Youth Gangs,and Deviance? True or False? Juvenile gangs are an urban problem; few rural areas have problems with gangs.

How Much Do You Know About Peer Cliques, Youth Gangs,and Deviance? False. Gangs are frequently thought of as an urban problem because central-city gangs organized around drug dealing have become prominent in recent years; however, gangs are found in rural areas throughout the country as well.

Defining Deviance Deviance is relative. An act becomes deviant when it is socially defined as such. Definitions of deviance vary widely from place to place, from time to time, and from group to group. Deviant behavior ranges from mild transgressions of folkways, to serious infringements of mores, to very violations of the law.

Crime and A crime is a behavior that violates criminal law and is punishable with fines, jail terms, and/or other negative sanctions. Juvenile delinquency, refers to a violation of law or the commission of a status offense by young people. The criminal justice system, which includes the police, the courts, and the prisons, is the primary mechanism of external social control.

Question The text defines deviance as any: aberrant behavior. behavior, belief, or condition that violates social norms. serious violation of consistent moral codes. perverted act.

Answer: b The text defines deviance as any behavior, belief, or condition that violates social norms.

What Is Social Control? Practices that social groups develop to encourage conformity to norms, rules, and laws and to discourage deviance. Internal social control takes place when individuals internalize norms and values and follow those norms and values in their lives. External social control involves negative sanctions that proscribe certain behaviors and punish rule breakers.

Criminology The systematic study of crime and the criminal justice system, including the police, courts, and prisons. When sociologists study deviance, they attempt to determine: What types of behavior are defined as deviant Who does the defining How and why people become deviants How society deals with deviants.

Functionalist Perspective Deviance serves three functions: Deviance clarifies rules. Deviance unites a group. Deviance promotes social change.

Merton’s Strain Theory of Deviance Mode Method Conformity Accepts approved goals, pursues them through approved means. Innovation Accepts approved goals; uses disapproved means. Ritualism Abandons society’s goals; conforms to approved means.

Merton’s Strain Theory of Deviance Mode Method Retreatism Abandons approved goals and approved means. Rebellion Challenges approved goals and approved means.

Functionalist Perspectives Theory Key Elements Strain theory Deviance occurs when approved means of reaching approved goals is blocked. Opportunity theory Lower-class delinquents subscribe to middleclass values they can’t attain. They may achieve goals illegitimately.

Functionalist Perspectives Theory Key Elements Social control/ social bonding When ties to family and friends are weak, individuals are likely to engage in criminal behavior.

Interactionist Perspectives Theory Key Element Differential association Deviant behavior is learned in interaction with others. Social Control/ Social bonding Social bonds keep people from becoming criminals. When ties to family and friends become weak, individuals are likely to engage in criminal behavior.

Interactionist Perspectives Theory Key Element Labeling theory Acts are deviant because they have been labeled as such. Primary /secondary A person accepts the “deviant” label and continues to engage in “deviant” behavior.

Conflict Perspectives Theory Key Elements Critical approach The powerful use the criminal justice system to protect their interests. Feminist approach Liberal- deviance arises from discrimination. Radical- focuses on patriarchy Socialist - focuses on capitalism and patriarchy

Postmodern Perspective Theory Key Element Knowledge is power Power, knowledge, and social control are intertwined. Example: In prisons, methods of surveillance make prisoners think they are being watched all the time, giving officials a form of power over the inmates.

Question According to _____ theory, people are sometimes exposed to cultural goals that they are unable to obtain because they do not have access to culturally approved means of achieving those goals. containment status inaccessibility strain conflict

Answer: c According to strain theory, people are sometimes exposed to cultural goals that they are unable to obtain because they do not have access to culturally approved means of achieving those goals.

Question Differential Association theory suggests that people will become criminal in their behavior: when they have frequent, intense, and long-lasting interactions with others who violate the law. simply by associating with other people. when they learn the rationalization and neutralization techniques for such behavior. when they learn the techniques for committing the crimes.

Answer: a. Differential Association theory suggests that people will become criminal in their behavior when they have frequent, intense, and long-lasting interactions with others who violate the law.

Question Drug addicts are an example of what type of adaptation in Strain Theory? conformity innovation retreatism ritualism

Answer: c Drug addicts are an example of the retreatism adaptation in Strain Theory.

Arrests by Type of Offenses, 2003

How the Law Classifies Crime Crimes are divided into felonies and misdemeanors. A felony is a serious crime such as rape, homicide, or aggravated assault, for which punishment ranges from more than a year’s imprisonment to death. A misdemeanor is a minor crime that is typically punished by less than one year in jail.

Question Have you ever stolen little things worth between $2 and $50? Yes No

Question Have you ever stolen things worth more than $50? Yes No

How Sociologists Classify Crime Sociologists categorize crimes based on how they are committed and how society views the offenses: conventional (street) crime occupational (white-collar) and corporate crime organized crime political crime

Question Have you ever been arrested? Yes No

GSS National Data Yes 2% 3% 0.4% 4.5% 7.7% No 98% 97% 99.6% 95.5% Lib. Protestant Con. Protestant Catholic Jewish None Yes 2% 3% 0.4% 4.5% 7.7% No 98% 97% 99.6% 95.5% 92.3%

FBI Crime Clock

Conventional Crime Includes violent crime, property crimes, and certain morals crimes. Violent crime - actions involving force or the threat of force, including murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Property crimes - robbery, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, and arson. “Morals” crimes - prostitution, illegal gambling, use of illegal drugs, and illegal pornography.

Occupational and Corporate Crime Occupational (white-collar) crime - illegal activities committed by people in their occupation or financial affairs. Corporate crime - illegal acts committed by corporate employees on behalf of the corporation and with its support. Examples: antitrust violations; tax evasion; misrepresentations in advertising; infringements on patents, copyrights, and trademarks; price fixing; and financial fraud.

Organized Crime A business operation that supplies illegal goods and services for profit. Premeditated, continuous illegal activities of organized crime include drug trafficking prostitution, loan-sharking, money laundering, and large-scale theft such as truck hijackings. Organized crime thrives because there is great demand for illegal goods and services.

Political Crime Illegal or unethical acts involving usurpation of power by government officials, or illegal/ unethical acts perpetrated against the government by outsiders seeking to make a political statement, undermine or overthrow the government.

Question Which of the behaviors below is referred to as a morals crime? illegal gambling illegal drugs prostitution all of these choices

Answer: d The following behaviors are referred to as a morals crime: illegal gambling, illegal drugs and prostitution.

Four Types of Political Deviance Secrecy and deception designed to manipulate public opinion. Abuse of power. Prosecution of individuals due to their political activities. Official violence, such as police brutality against people of color or the use of citizens as unwilling guinea pigs in scientific research.

Arrest Rates by Sex, 2003

Arrest Rates by Race, 2002

Discretionary Powers in Law Enforcement

Criminal Justice System Refers to more than 55,000 local, state, and federal agencies that enforce laws, adjudicate crimes, and treat and rehabilitate criminals. Includes police, courts, corrections facilities, and employs more than 2 million people in 17,000 police agencies, nearly 17,000 courts, more than 8,000 prosecutorial agencies, about 6,000 correctional institutions, and more than 3,500 probation and parole departments.

Discretion Refers to the use of personal judgment by police officers, prosecutors, judges, and other criminal justice system officials regarding how to proceed in a given situation. Example: The police have the power to selectively enforce the law and have on many occasions been accused of being too harsh or too lenient on alleged offenders.

Punishment and Corrections Punishment is any action designed to deprive a person of things of value because of some offense the person is thought to have committed.

Functions of Punishment Retribution - the punishment should fit the crime. Social protection - restrict offenders so they can’t commit further crimes.

Functions of Punishment Rehabilitation - return offenders to the community as law-abiding citizens. Deterrence - reduce criminal activity through a fear of punishment.

Question From the following list, what do you feel should be the most important function of prison? Punish people for crimes they committed. Rehabilitate people who committed crimes. Protect society by locking away criminals. Serve as a warning. Make people pay back society for the crimes they have committed. Don't know

The Death Penalty Capital punishment, or the death penalty, has been used in the United States as an appropriate and justifiable response to very serious crimes. In 2002, 71 inmates were executed and more than 3,500 people awaited execution. 2/3 of those on death row are in southern states, including Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Death Row Census January 1, 2005

Global crime The 1994 United Nations Conference on Global Organized Crime estimated that about $500 billion per year is accrued in the global trade in drugs alone. Today, profits from all kinds of global criminal activities are estimated to range from $750 billion to more than $1.5 trillion a year.

Global Crime Reducing global crime will require a global response, including: Cooperation of law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and intelligence services across geopolitical boundaries. Regulation by the international community to control international money laundering and trafficking in people and controlled substances such as drugs and weapons.

Quick Quiz

1. ________ is any belief, behavior, or condition that violates significant social norms in the society or group in which it occurs. Deviance Mores Taboos Crime

Answer: A Deviance is any belief, behavior, or condition that violates significant social norms in the society or group in which it occurs.

2. The "good worker" is often an example of what type of adaptation in Strain Theory? innovation ritualism retreatist conformity

Answer: b The "good worker" is often an example of ritualism in Strain Theory.

3. Punishment is seen as serving four functions 3. Punishment is seen as serving four functions. Which item below is NOT one of those functions? innovation deterrence retribution social protection

Answer: a Punishment is seen as serving four functions. Innovation is NOT one of those functions.

4. ________ refers to the systematic practices that social groups develop in order to encourage conformity to norms, rules, and laws, and to discourage deviance. Criminal justice Deviance Law enforcement Social control

Answer: d Social control refers to the systematic practices that social groups develop in order to encourage conformity to norms, rules, and laws, and to discourage deviance.

5. A felony is a serious crime such as rape, and homicide for which punishment means imprisonment from one year to death. False. True.

Answer: b A felony is a serious crime such as rape, and homicide for which punishment means imprisonment from one year to death.

6. Control Theorists suggest that deviance is more likely to occur when social bonds are strongest. False. True.

Answer: a Control Theorists suggest that deviance is less likely to occur when social bonds are strongest.