CRJ 308 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Class Conflict

• School: ASU
• Department: Criminology and Criminal Justice
• Course: CRJ 308
• Professor: Amanda Lindsay

Document Summary

Bor(cid:374) i(cid:374) the (cid:1005)9(cid:1010)(cid:1004)"s, the u (cid:449)as o(cid:374) a(cid:374) eco(cid:374)o(cid:373)ic a(cid:374)d societal roll. By the early (cid:1005)9(cid:1011)(cid:1004)"s, it had all tur(cid:374)ed to crap, tur(cid:373)oil. Criminologists at the time were disenfranchised with traditional theories, citing them as blind to the realities of economic and racial inequality. This lead to the call for (cid:862)critical(cid:863) cri(cid:373)i(cid:374)ological theories. Also called conflict, radical, or marxian criminology, these theories cover five themes: First, inequality and power are key to understanding crime and its control. The rich get to be so on the backs of the poor. They use their power and influence to make sure policies do not interfere with their ability to make money. Laws are a reflection of the power structure of society. Whe(cid:374) the poor do as the poor do, it"s a cri(cid:373)e. Whe(cid:374) the rich do (cid:449)hat the rich people do, it"s for a profit. This shifts the focus of crime away from state-centric harm, and places it on human rights.