Crime and Deviance Chapter 5

Discussion Outline I. The Nature of Deviance II. Theories of Deviance III. Crime and the Criminal Justice System

I. The Nature of Deviance Deviance: behavior a considerable number of people in a society view as reprehensible and intolerable – Society establishes social norms When norms violated, behavior considered deviant

The Nature of Deviance Dysfunctions of Deviance – Interferes with institutional life – Can lower morale of non-deviants – Erodes societal trust Functions of Deviance – Promotes conformity – Clarifies boundaries – Strengthens the censuring group – Warn non-deviant majority

The Nature of Deviance The Relativity of Deviance – Relativity-There is nothing inherent in an act that makes an act wrong, criminal, or deviant. Social definitions of deviance are relative to the values, beliefs, and norms of a society Defining deviance is a social and historical construct What is an example of a difference in deviant behavior across culture? Across historical time period?

Significance of the Relativity of Deviance – Changing social attitudes and beliefs(culture) – The political nature of defining crime and deviance-Drugs and sexuality The cases of marijuana and homosexuality

Relativity and Drug Use Why is the use of some drugs considered deviant/criminal, while others are not? Is it based on relative harm done? – Does drug policy and concern about drug use make sense when looking at objective reality? I.e- Statistics regarding the harm done by certain drugs (Alcohol vs Marijuana)

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Relativity and Drug Use Objective component is physical, psychological, or social evidence of harm Subjective component is people’s perceptions about the consequences Example: Marijuana vs. Alcohol Subjectively our society believes that marijuana is harmful and should remain illegal, while alcohol is relatively harmless and should stay legal Objectively there is little evidence that marijuana is harmful but much evidence of alcohol and tobacco and associated dangers.

Social Control and Deviance Social control regulates behavior within a society – Functionalists see it as indispensable – Conflict theorists see it as tool of powerful groups Internalization of norms Formal vs. Informal Sanctions

II. Theories of Deviance Why do people become deviant and commit crime?

Theories of Deviance Anomie Theory – Durkheim’s anomie: social condition in which people find it difficult to guide their behavior by norms that they experience as weak, unclear, or conflicting – Merton’s theory of Structural Strain

Theories of Deviance Cultural Transmission Theory – Youths become delinquent because they associate and make friends with other delinquents – Sutherland’s Theory of Differential Association Differential association: individual’s cultural conditions help determine his/her likelihood of and attitudes towards deviance

Theories of Deviance Conflict Theory – Individuals victimized by capitalist oppression are driven by their struggle to survive to commit acts that the ruling class brands as criminal

Theories of Deviance Labeling Theory – Labeling people as deviants has consequences for them Primary Deviance: We all engage in deviant behavior; but are we caught and labeled as deviants?? Secondary deviance: deviance individuals adopt in response to the reactions of other individuals – People labeled “deviant” typically find themselves rejected and isolated which can result in a self fulfilling prophecy

Theories of Deviance Control Theory-Why don’t people deviate? – Hirschi: Elements of the Social Bond Societal bond is crucial Attachment to others Involvement in the society’s conventional activities Commitment to other people Belief in host society’s values

III. Crime and the Criminal Justice System Crime The Criminal Justice System – The land of the free?

Crime and the Criminal Justice System – White-collar and corporate crime: crime most commonly committed by relatively affluent persons, often in the course of business activities

Crime and the Criminal Justice System Race and Crime – African-Americans in U.S. are 12% of population, but represent 27% of arrests for index crimes and 45% of prison population

Crime and the Criminal Justice System The Criminal Justice System – Prisons Population steadily increasing U.S. has highest incarceration rate in world – Why?

The American Punishment Frenzy Punitive policies Imprisonment of non-violent offenders 1980’s-The drug war – Mandatory minimums – Three strikes laws – Plea bargains In 2007, the United States had the highest incarceration rate in the world Over 7 million people in prison, jail, or under correctional supervision