Class differences in crime

Class differences in crime

1. Functionalism

   • The law is a reflection of society's shared values and crime is the product of inadequate socialisation into these values
   • In modern societies with complex divisions of labour, different groups and classes will develop their own subcultures
   • Miller - w/class groups have their own subcultures with distinctive norms and values that clash with those of mainstream culture, thus explaining the higher crime rate
   • Conforming to subcultural norms such as toughness can lead to conflict with the law

2. Strain theory

   • People engage in deviant behaviour when opportunities to achieve in legitimate ways are blocked, e.g. the cultural goal of 'money success'
   • The w/class are more likely to be denied legitimate opportunities to achieve success and so are more likely to seek illegitimate means of achieving
   • Merton - 'innovation': the use of new, deviant means such as theft or fraud to gain wealth
   • W/class have a higher rate of utilitarian crime (crime for material gain)

3. Subcultural theories

   • Merton - w/class suffer from blocked opportunities
   • Delinquent subcultures formed by w/class youths is a solution to the problem of status frustration - by inverting mainstream values such a respect for property, they can gain status from peers
   • Cloward and Ohlin - illegitimate opportunity structures explain the high level of w/class crime