SOC 2700 Chapter Notes - Chapter 11: Left Realism, Jock Young, Critical Criminology

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 2700
• Professor: Stephanie Howells

Document Summary

Left realism refers primarily to the writings of a group of british criminologists, some of whom, such as jock young (1975,1979), were in the forefront of radical criminology in the. Radical positions on criminal justice and crime. Response that the capitalist society and oppressive justice system overlook the pain and su ering generated from the o ender who victimize their victims (normally poor and powerless) Left idealists treat crime as an epiphenomenon, with the criminal conceived of as a sort of socialist homunculus or proto-revolutionary being viewed as determined and blameless, punishment as unwarranted or ampli catory . Early on focussed on street cries such as robbery. So the get tough, punitive criminal justice policies created in britain and america created what the left realists call a crisis in criminology. They were concerned that the radical views weren"t concerned with solving the main problems of crime for ordinary people in society.