Sociology 2253A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Due Process, Abusive Power And Control, Informal Social Control
21 Nov 2016
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Document Summary
Popular crime shows oversimplify complex issues of crime and justice. New media focus on negative rather than positive criminal justice outcomes. Media tendency to focus on sensational cases: influence public opinion which plays a significant role in crime control. Crime on the rise: violent crimes account for large proportion of crime. Criminal justice system: sentences are too lenient, incarceration rates. Canada has one of the higher incarceration rates: disproportionate crime amongst our society, violence apparently is at its highest but it is indeed at its lowest, 2/3 canadians said were too lenient (70s) Role of the public: more punitive response, penal populism (cid:494)tough on crime . Through public polls, media stories, and activist groups, the public has a voice in decisions about the administration of criminal justice. Since the administration of justice is seen as a crucial role of government, the government in power has a vested interest in responding to the public(cid:495)s will.
