...The essay focuses on the social construction of crime, and the possible reasons for these social constructions. In the first section, the essay explains what crime is, and the constructionist perspective theory. In the Second section my essay focuses on the crime as socially constructed and why it is socially constructed. In the third section essay explains, three levels of explanation in the study of deviant and criminal behaviour. In the final section, it focuses on the historical theoretical periods, which plays an important role in revitalising past discoveries. Crime is a term that refers to many types of misconduct that is forbidden by law. There are a number of different reasons as to why crime can be viewed as a social construction. There cannot be 'social problems' that are not the product of social construction - naming, labelling, defining and mapping them into place - through which we can 'make sense' of them' (Clarke, 2001). In this essay I will explain what is social construction, also what crime is, and why we think, that crime is socially constructed. Furthermore, I will explain how media construct crime and the stigma of black crime. In the last paragraph I will explore the importance of Marxist and Durkheim's theories on the emergence of crime....
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...S.PALAVESAKRISHNAN palavesakrishnan@gmail.com Abstract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Background to the Project. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Defining the Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 The Nature and the Scope of the Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Risk of Break-ins and Builder Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Selecting and Implementing the Preventive Measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Monitoring Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Evaluating the Preventive Measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Summary of the Results of the Experiment . ...
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...constructionism. Social construction is the frame through which society views an idea. It could be the idea of a crime (for example, drug abuse is a socially constructed crime not an inherent crime) or the idea of an event (for example, the beating of Rodney King as police brutality instead of necessary to protect the officers). Nothing is black-and-white, there are many different ways to view a situation. Juries are selected to be a group of peers – this is what our justice system is based off of. If an objective peer would do the same thing in the same situation, perhaps you’ll be acquitted. However, the peer-based system is flawed. The first reason is because it can be hard to find a peer for some groups. The more educated a person is, the less likely it is that their jury will be intellectual equals. On the flip side, with an extremely under-educated person, the same principle applies. The juried system works best with an average person sitting before an average group of peers. However, this same idea – of average juries for average citizens – can skew the trial in an unfair direction. Legal studies professor Hiroshi Fukurai wrote about the peer trial being a detriment to justice, giving the example of Ku Klux Klansman trials shortly after the Civil War. These men were tried for murder and torture of abolitionists and escaped slaves, and many were found not-guilty by a jury of white Republican males (Fukurai 1999). The social construction of the era said that slaves...
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...One of the main misunderstandings in environmental crime is the lack of consistency in the definition and classification of environmental crime. The primary problem is differing perspectives as to what constitutes as environmental crime, embedded in moral, philosophical and legalistic interpretations of harm and in what circumstances does this harm becomes a crime (White, 2008). Many criminologists have put forth perspectives which explain the reasons why individuals and corporations engage in activities that cause environmental harms. These perspectives can be linked to the original environmental or green criminology perspectives. Pollution and dumping has become an increasingly costly problem for the environment. As a results, there has been a rise in criminology literature that analyses environmental harms as crimes (Crofts, Morris, Wells & Powell, 2010). Pollution entail the emission, leakage or spillage of a prescribed substance into the air, water or soil (Brickenll, 2010). It was the first environmentally damaging practice to capture the attention of the public and also concern regulatory attention. Pollutants recognised include pesticides, chemicals and gases. Whilst some of these emissions are banned and illegal, some are permitted, but only within specified levels. Pollution is thus illegal when there is a release of a prohibited substance, the emission or leakage of substance in excess of an established limit, or expulsion into areas such as vast bodies of...
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...Crime and Data Comparison Professor September 14, 2015 In this paper I will compare burglary crime statistics between two cities for the years 2005 and 2012 using the Federal Bureau of Investigation database the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program. This paper will also, discuss which area had more reported incidents, what were the rates of the crime for each area, did the rates changed over time in either area, and what factors might explain the differences in the rates. Since 1930, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has been tasked with collecting, publishing, and archiving criminal data statistics in most major cities across the United States. This information is gathered from, Crime in the United States, National Incident-Based Reporting System, Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, and Hate Crime Statistics that are gathered from data received from over 18,000 cities, universities, county, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement agencies, which voluntarily participate in the program (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2014). This data is then submitted to the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program. The Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program breaks down the data into states, the cities within that state, and numerous other categories. These categories include population, violent crimes, murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, property crimes, burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson (Federal Bureau...
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...Through research I discovered that the biggest factor in high-crime rates seems to be high levels of poverty. The devastating history and poverty of communities in New York City such as Tremont in the South Bronx lead to more crime. Violent and nonviolent crimes occur more in low income communities. Tremont is a neighborhood in the Bronx struck with poverty leading to more problems exacerbated by the construction of the Cross Bronx Expressway between 1948 to 1972. On the other hand, the Lower East Side in Manhattan where many immigrants reside is going through the opposite. This community is going through gentrification which means higher income residents are moving into the community. History of East Tremont First recorded in 1609 by European settler Henry Hudson , the Bronx...
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...SOCIOLOGY – AQA – UNIT 4 - CRIME AND DEVIANCE The exam is split into 3 questions: • Q.1 is a pure methods section which contains two parts a) 12 marks and b) 21 marks. You should spend 45 minuets on this question. • Q.2 is a method in context question. Part a) is for 9 marks [could also be a 3 and 6 mark question] and part b) is for 15 marks. You should spend 30 minuets on this question. • Q.3 is a theories essay for 33 marks. THIS QUESTION IS SYNOPTIC! You should spend 45 minuets on this question. Below is a list of all the areas and studies you need to know for each section of the exam. Don’t worry if you don’t know all the studies, each college/school are likely to teach slightly different ones, just make sure you know about that amount for each section. Q.1 For the first two pure crime parts you need to know: Functionalist theories of crime and deviance Durkheim – Social control, social regulation including suicide Merton-Strain theory, blocked aspirations Cohen – Status frustration Cloward and Ohlin – Deviant subcultures New Right/Right Realism James Wilson – Strict law enforcement needed Wilson and Kelling – Broken windows, zero tolerance Murray – Cultural deprivation, single parents and ineffective, the underclass Erdos – Families without fathers Subcultural theories Cohen – Delinquent subcultures Cloward and Ohlin – Delinquency and opportunity, criminal, conflict and retreatist...
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...Why crime is a contested subject A crime in a broad understanding is an act that violates a political or moral law of any one person or social grouping. In the narrow sense, a crime is a violation of criminal law; in many nations, there are criminal standards of bad behaviour. However, a crime can be the action of violating or breaking a law. According to Western system of law, there must be a simultaneous concurrence of both guilty action and guilty mind for a crime to have been committed; Some people will say that manslaughter is not the case, for example if an individual hits someone he did not mean to kill them, however the intent to cause harm was there. In order for prosecution, some laws require proof of cause and effect relating the defendant's actions to the criminal event in question. In addition, some laws require that attendant circumstances have occurred, in order for a crime to have taken place. Also, in order for a crime to be prosecuted, proof of a crime must be established. There are six dominant constructions of crime as we see it; * Crime as a social construct * Crime as a violation of moral codes * Crime as ideological censure * Crime as a criminal law violation * Crime as historical invention * Crime as social harm There are different theories of criminology as these are as follows Positivism, Conservatism, Strain theory; new deviancy theory and Marxism, these theories each have a view on what crime should be defined as. Crime as...
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...residential apartment building. The complex is to be located in an area of the city which borders a high-crime urban area on one side, and industrial facilities on the other. This will present several challenges that will require strategic planning to overcome or reduce the level of risk or threats. The construction will be built with a design that accommodates the needs of the occupants and owners especially those involving security and territorial space. Considering the industrial facilities surrounding the apartment it is important that the building will suit residents that are associated to the industrial facilities in the area. The building will have a modern designed with an attractive complex structure for people who are looking for an apartment. I will consider the following factors that will incorporate the needs of the occupants and owners, which include; territoriality; natural surveillance; design guidelines; territory and personal defense strategies; and confidence restoration strategies. I begin with territoriality of the construction planning. According to Robert A. Gander “Territoriality involves an individual's perception of, and relationship with, the environment. A strong sense of territoriality encourages an individual to take control of his or her environment and defend it against attack.” In order to accomplish this, the planning needs to focus on area where crime is most likely to occur such as the lobbies, hallways, stairs, and elevators. Also Fennelly, Lawrence...
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...According to the Official Crime statistics most crime is committed by young people with the peak age of crime being 18 for males and 15 for females, with the majority of this crime consisting of theft and handling stolen goods which make up over 50% of all youth crimes. Cohen states that young people have a desire to feel valued, respected and to gain status within society. He states that this age difference may exist due to young working class boys feeling alienated and angry at the low status that schools and society allocate them and experience status frustration which results in the formation of gangs or subcultures of like-minded boys who reverse the norms and values of dominant culture and award status on the basis of anti-school and delinquent behaviour. This theory was influence by Merton, who states that crime results from a strain to anomie, which is when a working class boy is unable to achieve success in society through legitimate means which results in those boys looking for this achievement through illegitimate means by committing crimes to get back at a society which did not allow them to achieve. Kintrea’s theory of gang violence reinforces this as it explains that territorial conflict with rivals from other areas heightens the sense of masculinity. This in turn allows males to gain status, respect and reputation from each other which they failed to receive from mainstream society. However, these theories fail to explain why those in the middle or upper classes...
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...Overview Malaysia has always been a hotspot and the country of choice for many foreign workers looking for a better job and prospect of life. Immigrants from countries such as Bangladesh, Indonesia, Vietnam and Philippines pour in to our country yearly in search of jobs. Malaysia has and still welcomes foreign workers to enter our country to work in certain sectors, provided that they have valid and proper documents. Sadly, many immigrants are coming in illegally and those who fail to obtain a job are resorting to crime to earn a living. Resulting in many problems and discomfort for the society and government. Analysis Recent cases have shown many illegal Bangladeshi are pouring into the country posing mostly as foreign students and sometimes as tourists. (http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/11/03/Influx-of-workers-posing-as-students-Thousands-of-Bangladeshis-aided-by-institutions-working-with-hu.aspx) There are approximately 3.1million legal and illegal foreign workers in Malaysia today. (http://www.nst.com.my/latest/2-8-million-legal-illegal-foreign-workers-in-msia-1.317515) Statistics have shown that Malaysia is seeing fewer skilled foreign workers and expatriates, while low-skilled migrant workers flood our shores. Malaysia’s rapid economic growth accompanied with shortages for unskilled workers continue to attract foreign workers from neighbouring countries. The differences in growth differentials and overall educational gaps between the labour...
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...in the 70’s and 80’s in changing politics. The realist view is that crime is not just a social construction, but is a real problem that needs to be tackled. Realists believe that there has been a significant rise in the crime rate and favours a tough approach against it, as they think that other theories have failed to offer a solution to crime. The left realists Lea and Young attempt to give an explanation to street crime, committed by young people in urban areas. These sociologists took a victim survey which suggested that working-class and black people, especially elderly women, have a fear of street crime, as they are often victims of crime. Their explanation of why crime is committed by revolves around three key concepts. Firstly, relative deprivation, which explains how one person feel sin relation to another, this leads into crime very easily as people can feel as if others are unfairly better off than they are, and this resentment can lead to crime. Lea and Young suggests that although in today’s society people are more affluent they are still aware of their relative deprivation because of the media and advertising, which increase everyone’s expectation on standards of living. This is linked to the idea of individualism, because this undermines the family and community values of mutual support, cooperation and selflessness, which results in anti-social behaviour. The second concept of why crime is committed is marginalisation. Left realists argue that people feel...
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...upon their qualifications and ability to perform the required duties of a police officer. Formal training developed in many areas around the United States in the form of Police Academies. Technological advances such as telephones, two-way radios, and 911-emergency systems developed during this era. The Civil Rights Movement and the Antiwar Movement brought about new issues for police to address (Marion, 2006). The community era began in the 1980's and switched focus from simply arresting offenders to achieving community relationships with the individuals that made up each jurisdiction. Community policing has followed a large number of riots in the U.S. concerning racial minorities and the Vietnam War (Marion, 2006). Because current crime control methods were...
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...This essay will discuss the sociological imagination and social construction. It will offer insights of problem families and will look at it from a feminist theory and functionalism theory it will discus oppression and the impact on social institutions and underpin social work practise and the relevance. Charles Write Mills was an American Sociologist. His most famous was The Sociological Imagination, where mills states that personal troubles should become issues of the public. (mills books) By sharing these personal troubles with society will help a person realise they may not be alone and others maybe going through the same thing for example if a husband with his wife and children loses his job and is struggling to find another one. By...
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...decision-making and opinions of every single person on this planet. That decision-making has affected every entity, from businesses and government entities to the personal lives of everyone. Data has also shaped my opinions and other beliefs through several instances of research during my college education. During college, my undergraduate study was in geographical information systems, which had emphasis on spatial analysis and data. Since then, I completed several class projects that allowed me to research into various topics in regards to geography. In one of my first class projects, I was looking at the instances of crime that occurred in Washington, D.C. and see if there was an increase in crime nearby any of the WMATA metro rail stations. This class project was inspired from the concerns of the Purple Line construction through the College Park campus. This specific construction project was something I supported at the time because I was a frequent traveler to Washington D.C. via the metro rail system and would like the convenience of having a metro rail station at the campus, rather than riding a shuttle to another station....
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