approaches of criminology

Approaches to Criminology: 

Approaches to Criminology From functionalism to Radical School

Functionalism: 

Functionalism Lombrosian school – concerned with causation Based on the premise that criminals can somehow be differentiated from non-criminals Functionalist approach built on positivist approach – from 19th century onwards

Functionalism: 

Functionalism Studying society as an organic whole Functions that institutions play in maintaining order in society Moved away from the individualistic approach to the study of crime Mainly concerned with the study of order and harmony in society – so crime was important to study

Functionalism Contd…: 

Functionalism Contd… Durkhiem (1938) – Crime as a normal phenomenon, serves a necessary purpose – preparing society for changes that are necessary in future Indicative of need for reform in society Concept of Anomie (Study on suicides) Studied Crime rates from official figures to understand patterns

Functionalism Contd…: 

Functionalism Contd… Merton (1968) – developed the concept of anomie – a condition that develops when there is a mismatch between culturally prescribed goals (economic success) and institutionally available means (education) Individuals experience strain and adapt differently Crime is mode of adaptation when institutional means are not available to achieve the culturally prescribed means – society in disequilibrium

Functionalism Contd…: 

Functionalism Contd… Modes of adaptation – when there is a goals-means dysjunction Conformity – goals and means acceptance (no deviance) Innovation – accept goals but reject means (lower SES and white collar crime) Ritualism – rejection of goals but acceptance of means (lower middle class) Retreatism – rejection of goals and means Rebellion – rejection and creation of goals and means

Sub-Culture Theories : 

Sub-Culture Theories Cohen (1955) and Cloward and Ohlin (1960) Cohen - Conflict between middle class values and working class values Reaction formation to middle class values imposed in schools – boys who get into trouble

Sub-culture theories: 

Sub-culture theories Cloward and Ohlin - culturally accepted goal of achievement of economic success is internalized by most individuals in society, but the opportunities available to achieve this goal differs across neighbourhoods. This gives rise to specific subcultures depending on the opportunities available in specific neighbourhoods. Criminal, conflict/violent and retreatist/drug subcultures

Chicago School: 

Chicago School Examined crime at the macro level through ecological studies Micro level studies – case studies of delinquent gangs and life histories Thrasher’s (1927) The Gang, Reckless’s (1933) Vice in Chicago, Hayner’s (1936) The Sociology of Hotel Life, Anderson’s (1923) The Hobo, Shaw’s (1930, 1966) The Jackroller and Sutherland’s (1937) The Professional Thief.

Chicago School Contd…: 

Chicago School Contd… Thrasher’s path breaking study of gangs. Suggested that gangs develop from spontaneous playgroups, when they begin to incite disapproval and opposition, develop a group consciousness and become a conflict group. Based on his study of 1,313 gangs, he categorized them into diffuse, solidified, conventionalized and criminal gangs.

Chicago School Contd…: 

Chicago School Contd… In The Adolescent in the Family, Cavan (1934), studied predelinquent, delinquent and a control group of boys from schools in Chicago area. She found that delinquent children came from broken homes as compared to the children in the control group.

Chicago School Contd…: 

Chicago School Contd… Frasier (1932) followed an ecological analysis that became the trademark of the Chicago School attempted to trace the impact of slavery and racial discrimination on Afro-American families and its involvement in crime and delinquency Refuted the prevailing stereotype of widespread family disorganization and sexual immorality of the black family.

Chicago School Contd…: 

Chicago School Contd… The study examined delinquency rates of black youths in cities of the North and the South. His study indicated that the highest rates of delinquency were in those areas that were characterized by deterioration and social disorganization, leading to loss of social control. Used cases to illustrate the close relationship between the community situation and juvenile delinquency

Chicago School Contd…: 

Chicago School Contd… Shaw and McKay’s (1931, 1972) contribution to sociology and the Chicago School were in three main areas: Analysis of distribution of delinquency areas in Chicago and other cities through the ecological approach creation of the delinquency prevention programme (the Chicago Area Project) and A collection of life histories of delinquents.

Park and Burgess: 

Park and Burgess Relation between charecterstics of neighbourhoods and crime rate Study of the community as a body with inter-related organs Concentric circle theory: Expanding cities CBD-main business area Zone of Transition (once the main residential area)

Park and Burgess: 

Park and Burgess Families who could afford moved out of the zone of transition. Inexpensive and invited new immigrants Mixture of businesses, factories and low-income families Zone of Workingmen’s homes – better area with higher incomes Suburbs – Posh areas

Park and Burgess: 

Park and Burgess Rates of delinquency, TB, infant mortality highest in CBD and Zone of Transition Delinquents and criminals concentrated around areas of physical deterioration, congested population, rented homes, immigrants and minorities

Shaw and McKay: 

Shaw and McKay To determine the extent to which changes in delinquency rates are related to changes in physical or social characteristics of neighbourhoods. Divided the city into concentric circles Direct relationship between conditions and crime rate Higher economic status communities tended to be more stable as norms and values were more uniform – leading to low delinquency rates

Shaw and McKay: 

Shaw and McKay In lower economic communities, youth face competing values – crime careers are tempting Low income areas – deprivation and frustration, divergent cultural traditions and high rate of delinquency Delinquent behaviour is related dynamically to community

Chicago School Contd…: 

Chicago School Contd… Their studies showed that the highest rates of delinquency are found in or around the districts of the city zoned for industry and commerce. These are areas of physical deterioration and decreasing residential populations. These areas are characterized by low rents in old dilapidated buildings, low family incomes and a high percentage of immigrant and black populations. However they attributed this co-relation to poverty and poor living conditions and not to any inherent traits of these communities

Chicago School Contd…: 

Chicago School Contd… For Sutherland (1937, 1956), crime was a learnt behaviour through the process of socialization in groups. According to him, a person’s tendency to conform or deviate depends on the relative frequency of association with others who encourage conventional behaviour or norm violation (Carrabine, et.al., 2004:56). Behaviour Systems approach – corresponding to subculture and reference groups

Chicago School Contd…: 

Chicago School Contd… Behaviour system contains a unit of acts and actors making up a group way of life, shared patterned behaviour and feelings of group identification. Fouc on criminal behaviour systems rather than in individual criminals Led to isolation and analysis of various types of criminal behaviour Professional Thief (1937) – tutored by PTs and recognised as PTs by other PTs.

Chicago School Contd…: 

Chicago School Contd… Five Elements of Beh System: Technical skills – planning, technique, specialisation Status – respect from colleagues (indicated by wealth), CJS employees, politicians and media Consensus - code of conduct, we feeling shared ideology Differential association – hanging out together, social life, working together Organisation – ordered activities, mob

Chicago School Contd…: 

Chicago School Contd… Socialisation in criminal group The learning includes: techniques of crime commission as well as the drives, motives, rationalizations and attitudes. Delinquency occurs when there is an excess of definitions favorable to law violation over definitions unfavourable to law violation