Patterns of Crime

Patterns of Crime

1. Location

   • Reiner- More police are present and patrolling inner city areas due to labels and racist views from the police.
   • Cloward and Ohlin- Violence is more likely to increase in urbanised areas and decrease in sub urban.
   • Lea and Young- Emphasise the importance of getting police to response to the needs of people. Those needing support will commit crimes.
   • Charles Murray- The underclass have no desire for employment, younger generation share lack of goals.

2. Class

   • Hughes and Langan- White collar crime often damages society on a large scale but is ignored due to it being less visible than street crime.
   • Reiner- Canteen culture police are racist, and many officers have to attend University first.
   • Gordon- All classes are a rational response to capitalism.
   • Chambliss- Ruling class benefit the higher classes only.

3. Ethnicity

   • Hall et al- the media blame social problems on scapegoats rather than economic issues.
   • Gordon- Ethnic minorities face discrimination causing them to act out and commit crime.
   • Reiner- Police face pressures of dealing with the public and isolation, therefore become racist.
   • Lea and Young- Police and society are racist, therefore young black males are marginalised and join subcultures to help them.

4. Age

   • Jock Young- Labelling theory of the WC causes them to turn to crime.
   • Hirshi- People with less family commitments are more likely to commit crimes
   • Katz and Lyng- Crime is exciting and therefore many youths may participate in joy riding,
   • Wilson and Heidensohn- Bio social theory, males have higher testosterone causing crime.

5. Gender

   • Walby- women are more likely to be victims of domestic abuse.
   • Archer- The rise of females in gangs to protect males.
   • Pollak- Average custodial length was higher for males than females.