Assess the usefulness of functionalist approaches in explaining crime The functionalist approach to analysing deviance and the causes of crime looks at society as a whole. It explains crime that the source of criminal behaviour lies in the nature of society itself rather than in psychology or biology. Functionalists such as Durkheim see deviance as an inevitable and necessary part of society and too little is unhealthy. Some also consider crime to have positive aspects for society. In this essay we will assess the usefulness of these functionalist theories, and look at how it helps us explain crime.
Compare and Contrast TWO models of sexual assault and their respective utility for (i) the treatment and management of sex offenders and (ii) assisting the police in criminal investigations. When anyone wants to investigate criminal sexuality from different perspectives such as legal, academic, or simply curiosity-motivated, the multiplicity and variety of the internal part of phenomenon becomes quite clear. Few dimensions of the behaviour inlying the sexual crimes have to be considered to perceive the disequilibrium and complexity of sexual assault (Hazelwood, 2000). Despite the fact that advances were made in recent decades to help understand, detect, and treat sexual offenders, sexual assault still remains a serious topic that still persists in society (Langton & Marshall, 2001). Also, the studies developing models of offences and offenders grouping depending on individual cases have grown over the past couple of years (Trojan & Salfati, 2008).
Therefore, recommendations are also made in relation to the factors of this issue. Contents • Introduction P.3 • Discussion P.4-6 2.1 Factors of offending sex crimes--------------------------P.4 2.2 The re-offending rate of sexual offenders---------------P.5 2.3 Effectiveness of the sentences-----------------------------P.6 • Conclusion P.7 Introduction Sexual offense has been a long
It does however explain why some people or actions are described as deviant, and can help in understanding crime and deviance. According to item A labelling has changed the theoretical base for the study of criminals. Becker emphasises the significance of crime being a social construct; an action only becomes criminal or deviant once society has labelled it so, and that crime can be argued to be a social construction. He introduced the concept of a master label, referring to the label which a person is given which overrides all other labels. When a person is labelled as negatively, society tends to tend them as such, and this master label often becomes internalised, and then a self-fulfilling prophecy occurs.
There are many theories relating to deviance and crime with each theory illustrating a different aspect of the procedure by which people break rules and are classed as deviants or criminals. (New texts pg 138) which highlights the problems in defining crime or deviance. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CRIME AND DEVIANCE Many believe crime and deviance has developed on separate tracks over the years as criminologist serve only for legality, crime and crime-related phenomena. The study of deviance however serves for a wider range of behaviours that are not necessarily illegal for example suicide, alcoholism, homosexuality, mentally disordered behaviours. (Bader et al) The main difference between crime and deviance is deviant behaviour is when a social norm has been broken whereas a crime is where a formal and social norm is broken.
Critically Analyse the Meaning of Official Statistics, Applying this Explanation to the Patterns of Crime by Factors such as Class, Race and Gender and Consider how the Media may Amplify such Deviancy A lthough crime is deviant not all deviance is criminal, for example spitting in public or swearing at a shop assistant are deviant acts, meaning that they go against social norms, but are not criminal. On the other hand, crime is also deviant, but is punishable by the laws of the land. In this way, there is social order and social control, this creates a consensus of what is acceptable behaviour. Since 1857 police crime figures have been recorded and published annually, and until fairly recently they were considered to be accurate, but not all crime is reported to the police and the police can only publish figures of the crimes that have been reported. Despite this, Positivists see official crime statistics as a reliable indicator of crime patterns.
Using cultural norms, weapons availability, gang activity, geographic region, victim-offender relationship, as well as individual characteristics as considerations can give a much greater idea of statistics and causes. 3. What are the key issues to be considered in explaining as well as preventing the crimes of rape and child sexual abuse? * You would need to examine the fact that there are multiple varieties of this offense, in both rape and child sexual abuse, that it is not a black-and-white issue and no two offenses are going to be the same or have the same considerations. There is also very little similarities among child sex offenders, there may be little to no way to identify them primarily.
Further, because most hate-crime legislation puts added effort into prosecuting crimes against certain individuals or groups, what about the same crimes committed against someone who doesn't fit into one of those groups? Will the crime be prosecuted to the same extent? If not, you're making things worse for the majority, who are likely to feel underprotected. If the problem is that too many people (of any group) are being mugged, or assaulted, or their belongings vandalized, you should put more effort into prosecuting muggings, assaults, or vandalism. Not to protect any one group, but to protect all
As a conclusion this essay will take into consideration whether the perspectives outlined are external or internal in their description of reasons for crime and deviance and try and determine the relevance of the arguments. Deviance according to Jary and Jary in the Dictionary of Sociology (2000) is any social behaviour that departs from that regarded as normal or socially acceptable in a society or social context. Deviance will include criminal behaviour; but it's scope is far wider than just criminal behaviour. Deviant behaviour is not necessary criminal - according to the legal code of a given society, culture or country. Crime is defined as an infraction of criminal law.
The purpose of this paper is to exhibit the major factors of punishing juvenile offenders and the outcome these punishments produce. It is apparent that juvenile crime is a prevalent problem in the United States in which society should not disregard. On the contrary, the dilemma needs to be dealt with in a civilized manner that is in harmony with the universal standards of justice. There is a highly controversial debate regarding juvenile crime and the punishments allocated to the young offenders. However, when a child engages in criminal activity the degree of the sentence received should coincide with offense .The central emphasis of this content is to illustrate the effects of retribution by holding the juvenile justice system responsible for precisely applying the appropriate sanctions toward deserving individuals.