1. Critical Criminology: It’s a Class Thing
Chapter Eight:
Critical Criminology:
It’s a Class Thing

2. Critical Criminology
Critical criminology is aimed at identifying “real” crimes in U.S. society
It seeks to evaluate how criminal law is used as a mechanism of social control
It describes how power relations create inequities in U.S. society
It is concerned with the conservative control over American domestic and foreign policy
Crime is defined by those who hold power

3. Origins Began during the social upheaval of the 1960s
Critical of positivist criminology
Embraces the notion that unequal distribution of power and wealth produce crime

4. How Critical Criminologists Define Crime
A political concept designed to protect the power and position of the upper classes and the expense of the poor
Criminals are products of the society and its economic system
To control crime, a society must remove the social conditions that promote crime

5. The Cause of Crime
The key crime-producing element of modern corporate capitalism is the effort to increase surplus value

7. Globalization
The process of creating a global economy through transnational markets and political and legal systems

8. Instrumental Theory
Sees criminal law and the criminal justice system as capitalist instruments for controlling the lower class
Enables the powerful to impose their morality of standards of behavior on the entire society

9. Structural Theory
Based on the belief that criminal law and the criminal justice system are means of defending and preserving the capitalist system

10. Critique of Critical Criminology
Neglects the capitalist system’s effort to regulate itself
Fails to address conflicts in socialist countries
Fails to explain why some highly capitalist countries have low crime rates

11. Emerging Forms of Critical Criminology
left realism
peacemaking criminology
critical feminist theory
power-control theory

12. Left Realism
Approach that sees crime as a function of relative deprivation under capitalism and favors pragmatic, community-based crime prevention and control
Represents a compromise between conflict and traditional criminology

13. Critical Feminist Theory
Approach that explains both victimization and criminality among women in terms of gender inequality, patriarchy, and the exploitation of women under capitalism
Explains gender bias, violence against women, and repression

14. Power-Control Theory
The view that gender differences in crime are a function of economic power and parental control
Girls are controlled more closely than boys in traditional male-dominated households and there is gender equity in contemporary egalitarian homes

15. Peacemaking Criminology
Approach that considers punitive crime control strategies to be counterproductive and favors the use of humanistic conflict resolution to prevent and control crime
Offers a new approach to crime control through mediation

16. Critical Theory and Public Policy
Seek to reduce conflict and competition in society
Reduce harsh punishment of offenders

17. Restorative Justice
Using humanistic, non-punitive strategies to right wrongs and restore social harmony

18. Principles of Restorative Justice
Crime is an offense against human relationships
Victims and the community are central to justice processes
The first priority of justice processes is to assist victims
The second priority is to restore the community
The offender has personal responsibility to the victims and to the community
The offender will develop improved competency and understanding

19. Restoration Programs negotiation mediation consensus building
peacemaking
sentencing circles
sentencing panels

20. Balanced and Restorative Justice (BARJ)
The justice system should give equal weight to offender accountability, competency development, and community protection

21. Concerns about Restorative Justice
Is it a political movement or a treatment process?
Must be wary of cultural and social differences
No single definition
Must balance the needs of offenders with those of the victims
Benefits may only be short-term