Conflict Criminology

1
Conflict Criminology
2
Two social paradigms ways in which society works

• Consensus general agreement on values
• When conflicts arise, its the States role to
  mediate
• Conflict general disagreement on values
• State represents and is most concerned with the
  interests of the elite
• Therefore, the elite have the power to define
  what is appropriate behavior
• Elite are more concerned with themselves than
  with others
• Elite define what is appropriate behavior to
  further their self-interests
• Those who are not elites are more likely to be
  defined as criminals

3
Early conflict theories

• Cultural conflict - Sellin
• Conduct norms How people are supposed to act
  under certain circumstances
• Norms become laws
• In simple, homogenous societies laws reflect
  social consensus
• In complex, heterogeneous societies there may be
  disagreement about laws
• Group conflict - Vold
• People form groups with others of like interest
• Groups continuously try to improve their standing
• Achieve a kind of stasis (stable state) known as
  social order
• Groups may come into conflict when their
  interests and purposes collide
• Groups try to use the C.J. system to promote
  their standing
• When groups are in conflict, member loyalty to
  their group increases
• Groups compete for control of the States police
  power
• Crime is defined as the behavior of minority
  power groups that dont have enough influence to
  defend their interests
• Explanation does NOT extend to impulsive,
  irrational acts that arent related to a battle
  between power groups

4
Conflict Theoriesat a Time of Conflict
http//youtu.be/pGeFPzFNkQg

• Civil rights, terrorism, Vietnam and Gulf wars,
  economic meltdowns, political polarization

5
Criminalization Turk

• Conditions under which differencesbetween
  authorities and subjects will lead toconflict
• Conditions under which criminalization will occur
• Variables affecting likelihood of conflict
• Level of organization and sophistication of
  authorities/subjects
• Conflict more likely when subjects are organized
  (individuals less likely to back down)
• Conflict more likely when either group is less
  sophisticated (less able to subtly work around
  the conflict)
• Factors affecting criminalization of behavior by
  the authorities
• Offensiveness of prohibited act to the
  authorities
• Relative power of enforcers and resisters
• Likelihood that an action by either party may
  lead to success

http//www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id7388307nta
gmncollst3
6
Social reality of crime Quinney

• Social segments have common values, norms and
  ideology
• Business, labor, women, poor people, rich people,
  old people, etc.
• Some segments are organized, others not (e.g.,
  AARP)
• Crime is conduct that conflicts with the
  interests of influential segments
• Segments vary in their ability to protect their
  interests
• Behavior of persons in less influential segments
  more likely to be labeled criminal
• Segments promote their conceptions of what should
  be criminal through the media
• Those promoted by powerful individuals and groups
  tend to be accepted
• Concepts of what should be crime often reflect
  self-interest rather than public interest

7
Analysis of the CJ SystemChambliss and Seidman

• Is the power of the state, as embodied in theCJ
  system...
• ... a value-neutral framework where conflict
  canbe resolved?
• ... itself the prize in the perpetual conflict
  that is apart of society?
• Lawmaking characterized by warring interest
  groups
• The higher a groups economic and political
  position, the more likely its views will be
  reflected in the law
• Legislative process allows interest groups to
  override the public interest
• Appellate decisions reflect personal values,
  normally favor the wealthy
• Law enforcement depends on the political process
  for resources
• Maximizes its rewards, minimizes strains by
  processing the politically weak and powerless

http//www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id6126968nta
gmncollst3
8
Black -- behavior of law

• Stratification vertical social distance, best
  measuredby income
• Higher a person is on this ladder the more they
  caninvoke law and exercise its power over others
• Morphology horizontal aspect of social life
• On either extreme intimates and those isolated
  from each other law is inactive
• Law most active in the middle sphere of social
  distance
• Culture law is imposed on those with less
  education
• More law used when victim is of higher culture
  (e.g., education)
• Organization corporate or organized aspect of
  life
• More law available for use by the more organized
• Social control responses to deviancy from the
  norms
• More law used when other forms of social control
  are weak

9
Is criminal justice biased against the powerless?

• Minority members are more frequentlyarrested,
  and for more serious crimes. Is it bias?
• Police say thats so because minority areas
  havemore street crime
• Greater need and demand for policeservices
• Greater likelihood of arresting membersof
  minority groups
• Minority areas have fewer resources to
  tacklesocial problems
• Minority members receive harsher sanctions. Is
  it bias?
• Controlling for offense severity and record
  caneliminate the difference
• Violent crimes happen more frequently in minority
  areas
• Less affluent are less able to mount an effective
  defense
• Wealthier persons can retain better counsel
  post bail
• Police Issues Time or Money?

http//bcove.me/9c68g46w
10
Unified conflict theory of crime

• In complex societies peoples values and
  interests will conflict
• People act in patterns that they think benefit
  them and which they think are right or excusable
• Group values and power affect
• Which acts come to be defined as crimes
• Extent to which group members will become
  violators
• CJ agencies are more likely to listen to the
  powerful
• CJ agencies are more likely to process easier
  cases, thus more likely to sanction the powerless
• Official crime rates for groups and individuals
  will reflect the above