Crime

Crime

1. Intro

   • Dependent on time/place/culture
   • Changes with changing moral / social ideas
   • Interrelations unearthed between crime and social harm
   • Influenced by powerful

2. Theorists

   • Salmi - Violence narrowly equated to murder / war but definition psychological / physical integrity
   • Quinney - Law is powerful translating needs and interests into policy
   • Past crimes in UK aren't now but may be elsewhere
     • Homoesexual acts - death penalty elsewhere
       • Hard to give crime universal defnition
   • Hillyard & Tombs - many types of harm such as living in poverty / cultural exclusion not central in crime policy.
   • Michael & Adler - most precise definition is 'prohibited by criminal code'
     • Individualises crime
       • Interpersonal violence is focus not faceless and more harmful corporate crime

3. Conclusion

   • EPZ shows corporate power abuse
   • Corporate crime shows lobbyist influence on policy makers
   • focus on harm shows crime policies influenced by powerful
   • Trafficking causes serious harm but victims treated as criminals

4. Trafficking

   • Taken against will and abused but treated as criminal illegal immigrants
   • Mainly from poor countries with poor prospects for women eg Moldova
   • Eva
     • Trafficked through Africa to London
     • Escaped but sent to prison for no papers
     • Home Office trying to deport
     • Suffered multiple rapes and abuse but treated as criminal
   • Trafficking involves unwilling victim, promised non existent job, abused, bodies sold in sex trade, no need for borders to be crossed
   • Smuggling, willing participant, payment to smuggler once across border no contact

5. Asbestos

   • 100,000 a year die. 125 million exposed in 60 year period
   • Industry suppressed scientific findings, funded own research, routine cover ups, lied to workers
   • Lobbyists delayed effective regulation for 60 years
   • View of crime as individual violence helps corporations escape CJS
     • Helped by media and policy maker view of crime as individual acts

6. Export Processing Zones

   • Saipan
     • US Island used by GAP etc for marketing purposes of 'Made in USA"
       • US Island but no US law
       • Sweatshop like conditions but no health & safety of labour rights
   • Areas with minimal or no law to attract big corporations
   • 5,000 zones. 43 million workers (mainly China)
   • Abuse power, cause much social harm, not held to account
   • Malaysia
     • Government suggest electronic workers set up union
     • US electronic firms threatened to relocate
       • Plan was scrapped