Crime and Deviance

Deviance Deviance: Behavior that violates social norms Murder Rape Arson Graffiti Fighting Picking your nose Cross-dressing Drunk Driving Cheating on a test

Deviance Across Cultures Deviance is culturally relativistic; it varies from society to society It also varies within societies Murder is deviant Police officer killing an armed suspect is not deviant Rebel flag in Ohio is deviant Rebel flag in Alabama is not deviant HIV / AIDS is deviant if you got it through drug use or sexual contact Not deviant if you acquired it through blood transfusion

Why Does Deviance Happen? I. Cultural-Transmission or Differential Association Theory (Sutherland) Deviance is learned through interaction with others Differential association: if you interact more with deviant people, you will be deviant A deviant person is socialized into deviant norms Interactionist perspective

II. Structural-Strain Theory (Durkheim and Merton) Deviance is a natural outgrowth of values, norms, and structure of society Certain people can’t meet goals of society: Anomie Functionalist perspective

III. Control Theory (Hirschi) Similar to Structural-Strain theory Deviance occurs in people who do not have close ties to the community People with close ties are controlled by other community members People without close ties have less to lose Consequences of deviance determine behavior

IV. Conflict Theory Competition and social inequality lead to deviance Power struggle Deviance is defined by the group in power—anything threatening their power is “deviant” Group in power establishes ideologies that explain deviance as a lower-class phenomenon

V. Labeling Theory (Lemert and Becker) Focuses on how people become labeled “deviant” All people commit deviant acts, but not everyone is deviant Primary Deviance: nonconformity that goes undetected Secondary Deviance: deviance that results in a person being labeled

How Would Each Theory Explain the Columbine Shootings?

The Columbine Massacre April 20, 1999 Littleton, CO Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold Both had a criminal record Both were bullied at school “Trenchcoat Mafia” Both listened to “violent” music Both were classified as “Goths” 12 students and 1 teacher killed 21 students injured

Why is Deviance Good for Society? 1. Unifies the Group “Us vs. Them” -Gives a Sense of community 2. Clarifying Norms -Defines boundaries of behavior 3. Diffusing Tension -Minor acts of deviance are a “safety valve” 4. Identifying Problems -Tells which parts of society need change 5. Provides Jobs -Judges, lawyers, police, prison guards, etc.

Crime Crime: An act prohibited by law and punishable by a governing body Who is committing crimes? 1. Mostly Male: Generally more aggressive than females 2. Mostly White in numbers, mostly Black by percentage 3. Mostly under 25: More laws for those under 18-21

Types of Crime 1. Violent Crime: Murder, rape, robbery -physical violence or threat of violence 2. Crime against property: Burglary, arson -No person is physically harmed 3. Victimless Crime: Prostitution, gambling, drug use -No harm to anyone except the perpetrator 4. White Collar Crime: Fraud, tax evasion, toxic pollution -By people of high social standing 5. Organized Crime: Drug trafficking, gambling, black market -large scale and professional

Stigma A mark or sign to label a criminal http://www.familywatchdog.us/

The Criminal Justice System 1. Police: Make arrests -few crimes prevented by police 2. Courts: Determine guilt or innocence—issue sentences 3. Corrections -Recidivism: repeated criminal behavior 65% in US—the highest in the world 76% juvenile recidivism—also highest in the world -Approaches to correcting deviance Retribution Deterrence Rehabilitation Societal Protection -Are we too nice? -Do we not rehabilitate? 4. Juvenile Justice System: Different punishments for similar crimes -focus in on rehabilitation

The US Prison System The US has 5% of the world’s population and 25% of the world’s inmates 1 in 5 inmates is sexually assaulted 25% of all inmates are gang members 35% of inmates are drug addicts 80% are drug users 25% of all prison beds are occupied by people who are mentally insane Only 12 of 5000 prisons have higher education programs 700,000 inmates are released each year 2/3 are back within three years

History and Statistics The Death Penalty History and Statistics The Death Penalty has existed since before Christ Punishable offenses have ranged from blasphemy to murder The Death Penalty was strongly questioned by Enlightenment philosophers of the 1800s In the US, the rate of capital punishment has changed In 2002, 71 people in 13 states were executed Texas had the most with 33 70 were by lethal injection, 1 by electrocution 38 states use the death penalty In 2002, there were 3,557 inmates on death row (all for murder) There was a moratorium in the US from 1967-77

Arguments Arguments For Deterrent Punishment fits the crime Criminals forfeit their rights Recidivism rate is so high Economical Arguments Against People still commit crimes Chance of innocence “Cruel and Unusual” Immoral / Human Rights Economical