1. Which man might the judge be more likely to convict? Why?
Social class and crime
Learning outcomes:
All to be able to describe the relationship between social class and crime.
Most will be able to explain the patterns relating to social class and crime.
Some will be able to criticise the accuracy of crime statistics on working class and crime.
Which man might the judge be more likely to convict? Why?
Give statistical evidence. Explain why working-class people are more likely to suffer from material deprivation, relative deprivation and how this could link to crime. Explain how labelling theory could apply to working-class people and how they are monitored and treated by the police and CRS (agents of social control). Describe what a moral panic is an why working- class people may be the subjects of moral panics. Explain how education and lack of a legitimate opportunity structure could lead to crime through climbing an illegitimate opportunity structure. To explain why gaining respect from the peer-group may be important for those who fail in the legitimate opportunity structure and suffer from status frustration. Describe working-class subculture and how this could lead to criminal behaviour, using Miller or Willis’ studies. Explain the Marxist view of crime, including selective enforcement and law making (protecting private property). Describe different types of white collar crime. Explain reasons why white-collar crime may is treated differently to other types of crime. Answer a range of exam questions.

2. Connector
5 Mins
Official crime statistics (OCS) show that most people who break the law are of working class background.
Think, pair and share...
If OCS are true, why do working class people break the law more than middle class people?
Are OCS true? Do middle class people commit as many crimes as the working class, but get away with their crimes?

3. Task 1
15 Mins
Work in pairs.
Read the handout you are given and sum it up into your worksheet.
You will have to explain what you find out to the class.
Students work in pairs. They read the hand-out on social class and crime and sum it up into their worksheet.
 (15 mins)

4. Task 2 Class presentations.
10 Mins
Class presentations.
Everyone else, take notes into your worksheet.
In groups, students will then present their findings to the rest of the class while everyone else takes notes

5. Working class Material deprivation
Working class people tend to live in poverty so they turn to crime in order to ‘make ends meet’, e.g. people may shoplift food or children’s clothing for their family. Moreover, working class people desire material goods (a good car, designer clothes), but have fewer opportunities to achieve them through legitimate so they do not earn enough to be able to afford the goods they desire. This may lead to crime such as drug dealing as means of obtaining the goods they want.
Anomie
Anomie is a feeling of lack of belonging, frustration and anger at society. Working class people are more likely to experience anomie. They have few opportunities to find employment which has a negative effect on their life chances. This can lead them to feel frustrated and angry at their situation and as if they don’t belong in the society. They therefore turn to crime out of frustration (anomie).
Working class values and subcultures
Working class values may promote anti-social attitudes and behaviour. This can lead to crime. Moreover, working class people are more likely to join subcultures which, in turn, can lead them into crime such as drug taking.

6. Middle class Police stereotyping
This theory claims that it is not true that working class people commit more offences, but that police have a stereotypical view of a “typical criminal” and that working class young males fit that stereotype. Moreover, the criminal justice system tends to focus more on the types of crimes committed by the working class such as robbery and burglary rather than on types of crimes committed by the middle class such as fraud. As a result, working class people tend to end up in prison which makes it seem as if they are more criminal.
White collar crime
White collar crime is crime committed by individuals in high status positions during the course of their work for their own benefit. It Includes theft from the workplace, but also more complex crimes such as embezzlement and fraud. Companies prefer to deal with these crimes internally in order to safeguard their reputation. Therefore, penalties for such offences tend to be fines, rather than imprisonment.
Corporate crime
Corporate crime is crime committed by a company for its own interest, often with the knowledge and approval of those running the company. It includes offences such as breaches of health and safety laws and hacking into the rival companies’ computer systems to obtain confidential information. Corporate crimes tend to go undetected and unreported thus giving the impression that middle classes do not break the law. Moreover, companies prefer to deal with these crimes internally in order to safeguard their reputation.

7. Task 3 Work in pairs to plan this essay using the 4 step method:
20 Mins
Work in pairs to plan this essay using the 4 step method:
Discuss how far Sociologists would agree that working class people are more likely to commit crimes than other sections of society.
(12 marks)
Students work in pairs to plan this essay using the 4 step method:
Discuss how far Sociologists would agree that working class people are more likely to commit crimes than other sections of society. (12 marks)

8. Step 1
Discuss how far Sociologists would agree that working class people are more likely to commit crimes than other sections of society.
(12 marks)

9. Step 2
Discuss how far Sociologists would agree that working class people are more likely to commit crimes than other sections of society.
(12 marks)
Are working class people more criminal that middle class?

10. Step 3 Yes, working class people are more criminal
No, working class people are NOT more criminal

11. Step 4 Material deprivation Anomie
Yes, working class people are more criminal
No, working class people are NOT more criminal
Material deprivation
Anomie
Working class values and subcultures
Police stereotyping
White collar crime
Corporate crime

12. Learning journey
Difference between crime and deviance, legal and illegal deviance
Social control (informal and formal)
Who breaks the law? – age, ethnicity and gender
Who breaks the law? – social class and locality
Media representations of crime
Explaining crime – labelling theory and subcultural theory
Explaining crime – Functionalist theory and Marxist theory
Explaining crime – biological vs. sociological theories: peer group pressure, opportunity, socialisation
Official crime statistics – detecting, reporting and recording of crime, the dark figure of crime
How do Sociologists study crime: victim and self-reporting studies?
Victims of crime, government solutions to crime, social problems of youth crime and racism
Revision and end of Topic exam question