Ms. D’AgostinoSociology

Crime and Deviance

Write down your major goals in life.Then write down the “means” you will take to achieve your

goals.

For example: When I was in high school my goals were to become a high school teacher, travel to other countries and my maintain high school friendships.

Although some of my “means” changed (transferred to a different college; switched from English to Social Studies) I have achieved all 3 of my goals. I worked 2 jobs throughout college, studied abroad in Italy and remain close with my 6 best friends from high school. I completed graduate school and now (obviously) am a high school teacher.

Thinking about “GOALS AND MEANS” as we begin Quarter 2

Open your textbook to page 204. Let’s read 204-206 to see how the

textbook introduces the topic of deviance and crime.

Essential Questions:1.What is deviant behavior and when

is it a crime?2.What are the major theoretical

perspectives on deviance?3.How are crimes classified and how

does the justice system deal with crime?

4.What are the major forms (and merits) of punishment?

Textbook time!

What Is Deviance?Functionalist Perspectives on DevianceSymbolic Interactionist Perspectives on DevianceConflict Perspectives on DeviancePostmodernist Perspectives on Deviance

Part 1- LECTURE Outline

Crime Classifications and StatisticsThe Criminal Justice SystemDeviance and Crime in the U.S. in the FutureThe Global Criminal Economy

Part 2- LECTURE Outline

Any behavior, belief, or condition that violates social norms in the society or group in which it occurs: drinking too much robbing a bank laughing at a funeral

What is Deviance?

"Getting Away With It" - This American Life

I believe that underage drinking is an important social problem in our society.

a. Strongly agreeb. Agree somewhatc. Unsured. Disagree

somewhate. Strongly disagree

Question

True or False? Street crime has a much higher economic cost to society than

crimes committed in executive suites or by government officials.

True or false?

False Although street crime—such as assault and robbery—often has a

greater psychological cost, crimes committed by persons in top positions in business or government have a far greater economic cost, especially for U.S. taxpayers.

True or false?

True or False? Juvenile gangs are an urban problem; few rural areas have problems with gangs.

How Much Do You Know About Peer Cliques, Youth Gangs,and Deviance?

False. Gangs are frequently thought of as an urban problem

because central-city gangs organized around drug dealing have become prominent in recent years; however, gangs are found in rural areas throughout the country as well.

How Much Do You Know About Peer Cliques, Youth Gangs,and Deviance?

Deviance is relative.An act becomes deviant when it is socially defined as such.

Depends on time/location/cultureDeviant behavior ranges from mild transgressions of folkways, to serious infringements of mores, to very violations of the law.

Defining Deviance

Picking your nose in publicPedophilia Rape IncestStalking peoplePublic urination –

“Engineering Masterpiece” from Amsterdam

More Concrete Examples

Activity: Is it socially deviant, socially

problematic or socially acceptable?

Functionalist Perspectives Strain Theory – Robert Merton Opportunity Theory

Each theory provides a lens through which we can examine aspects of deviant behavior…

Symbolic Interactionist Perspectives Differential Association Theory Differential Reinforcement Theory Rational Choice Theory Control Theory/Social Bond Theory Labeling Theory

Conflict Perspectives

Read Merton’s Strain Theory,

Crime & My Pants

Deviance serves three functions:

1. Clarifies rules.2. Unites a group.3. Promotes social

change(think Gandhi & MLK)

Functionalist Perspective

Functionalist Perspectives

1. Robert Merton’s Strain Theory

• Society provides culturally valued goals & means based on striving for “the American Dream”

• Problems = imbalance between goals & means• Society doesn’t give everyone

the same means to accomplish their goals

Causes STRAIN (stress, angst, anger)

1. Conforming: accept goals & means, do what you need to do to get ahead

1. Ritualism: Give up on goals & continue with means

1. Retreatism: reject goals & means

1. Rebellion: Reject goals & means but find new ones

1. Innovation: Accepts goals & find new means that society doesn’t approve of (commonly leads to deviance & crime)

Merton’s Strain Theory

5 Reactions to Strain – “Modes of Adaption”

WHICH OF MERTON’S MODES OF ADAPTATION MIGHT EXPLAIN SCARY GUY OR LIZARD MAN’S VIEWS ON SOCIAL LIFE?

Functionalist perspectives

Opportunity Theory: When people have limited approved societal means to achieve their goals, but have opportunities to achieve their goals through illegitimate channels.

I.E. - Gangs

Symbolic- Interactionist Perspectives

Theory Key Element

Differential association

Deviant behavior is learned in interaction with others.

Social Control/Social bonding

Social bonds keep people from becoming criminals. When ties to family and friends become weak, individuals are likely to engage in criminal behavior.

Symbolic-Interactionist Perspectives

Theory Key Element

Labeling theory

-Acts are deviant because they have been labeled as such. -A person accepts the “deviant” label and continues behavior.

Conflict perspectives

Conflict theorists focus on power relations in society.

According to this approach, norms and laws are set by those in power and therefore the ideas of right and wrong are really a product of the ruling class. The ruling class uses laws to control two types of people

1.Social dynamites-criminals, gang members, labor organizers, rioters2.Social junk- welfare recipients, the homeless, people with disabilities“Criminals” are therefore more likely to be from lower classes

Conflict Perspectives

Theory Key Elements

Marxian

The powerful use the criminal justice system is used to protect the interests of those in power (upper classes)

Feminist

Liberal- deviance arises from discriminationRadical- focuses on male dominationSocialist/Marxist – women exploited by capitalism

Postmodern Perspective

Theory Key Element

Knowledge is power

Power, knowledge, and social control are intertwined. Example: In prisons, methods of surveillance make prisoners think they are being watched all the time, giving officials a form of power over the inmates.

A crime is a behavior that violates criminal law and is punishable with fines, jail terms, and/or other negative sanctions.

Juvenile delinquency, refers to violation of law or the commission of a status offense by young people.

The criminal justice system, which includes 1.the police 2. the courts 3.and the prisons, is the primary mechanism of external social control.

Crime and Juvenile Delinquency

Practices that social groups develop to encourage conformity to norms, rules, and laws and to discourage deviance.

Internal social control takes place when individuals internalize norms and values and follow those norms and values in their lives.

External social control involves negative sanctions that proscribe certain behaviors and punish rule breakers.

What Is Social Control?

The study of crime & the criminal justice system

When sociologists study deviance, they attempt to determine:What types of behavior are defined as deviant

Who does the definingHow and why people become deviantsHow society deals with deviants

Criminology

According to _____ theory, people are sometimes exposed to cultural goals that they are unable to obtain because they do not have access to culturally approved means of achieving those goals.

a. containmentb. status inaccessibilityc. straind. conflict

Question

According to strain theory, people are sometimes exposed to cultural goals that they are unable to obtain because they do not have access to culturally approved means of achieving those goals.

Answer: c

Differential Association theory suggests that people will become criminal in their behavior:

a. when they have frequent, intense, and long-lasting interactions with others who violate the law.

b. simply by associating with other people.c. when they learn the rationalization and

neutralization techniques for such behavior.

d. when they learn the techniques for committing the crimes.

Question

Differential Association theory suggests that people will become criminal in their behavior when they have frequent, intense, and long-lasting interactions with others who violate the law.

Answer: a.

Drug addicts are an example of what type of adaptation in Strain Theory?

a. conformityb. innovationc. retreatismd. ritualism

Question

Drug addicts are an example of the retreatism adaptation in Strain Theory.

Answer: c

Your job is to go into the field to figure out how the staff at MHS is dealing with social deviance—things like plagiarism, stealing, loitering, alcohol abuse, dress code violation, vandalism, fighting, and inappropriate language.

Sociology In Action!

You will work with a small group of four or five. Appropriate MHS behavior is expected. Also, you are a

reflection of me being in the halls so please do not use this as social hour. No cell phones. Use appropriate, formal language. Be professional.

Politely introduce yourself to staff members and tell them what you are researching. You might want to even state the learning objectives.

To avoid the Hawthorne effect, please indicate to your subject (staff member) that data will be purely confidential and used for academic purposes only. DO NOT RECORD NAMES. Be true to your word and keep staff comments confidential. During class discussion, do not use staff names.

Sociology In Action!

Arrests by Type of Offenses, 2003

Crimes are divided into felonies and misdemeanors.

A felony is a serious crime such as rape, homicide, or aggravated assault, for which punishment ranges from more than a year’s imprisonment to death.

A misdemeanor is a minor crime that is typically punished by less than one year in jail.

How the Law Classifies Crime

In Florida, 18-year-old Phillip Albert was sentenced to five years probation and was obligated to register as a sex offender after he distributed nude photos of his ex-girlfriend to more than 70 people. Including the ex-girlfriend's grandparents. On the other hand, the girl was never charged. Was she a willing participant or a victim?

Philip's plight is not a lonely one. In Pennsylvania, a 15-year-old girl was charged with child pornography after e-mailing nude photographs of herself to a 27-year-old man on MySpace. The recipient of the e-mail was only charged with "unlawful sexual activity."

Last year, a 14-year-old girl in New Jersey was arrested and charged with possession and distribution of child pornography after posting sexually explicit photos of herself on Facebook. Is Sexting a Crime? Does it constitute child pornography?

Sexting

Sociologists categorize crimes based on how they are committed and how society views the offenses:

1. conventional (street) crime2. occupational (white-collar) and corporate crime3. organized crime4. political crime

How Sociologists Classify Crime

Have you ever been arrested?a. Yesb. No

Question

GSS National Data

Lib.

ProtestantCon.

ProtestantCatholic Jewish None

Yes 2% 3% 0.4% 4.5% 7.7%

No 98% 97% 99.6% 95.5% 92.3%

FBI Crime Clock

Includes violent crime, property crimes, and certain morals crimes.

Violent crime - actions involving force or the threat of force, including murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.

Property crimes - robbery, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, and arson.

“Morals” crimes - prostitution, illegal gambling, use of illegal drugs, and illegal pornography.

Conventional Crime

A business operation that supplies illegal goods and services for profit.

Premeditated, continuous illegal activities of organized crime include drug trafficking prostitution, loan-sharking, money laundering, and large-scale theft such as truck hijackings.

Organized crime thrives because there is great demand for illegal goods and services.

Organized Crime

Occupational (white-collar) crime - illegal activities committed by people in their occupation or financial affairs.

Corporate crime - illegal acts committed by corporate employees on behalf of the corporation and with its support.Examples: antitrust violations; tax evasion; misrepresentations in advertising; infringements on patents, copyrights, and trademarks; price fixing; and financial fraud.

Occupational and Corporate Crime

Illegal or unethical acts involving usurpation of power by government officials, or illegal/ unethical acts perpetrated against the government by outsiders seeking to make a political statement, undermine or overthrow the government.

Political Crime

1. Secrecy and deception designed to manipulate public opinion.

2. Abuse of power.3. Prosecution of individuals due to their

political activities.4. Official violence, such as police brutality

against people of color or the use of citizens as unwilling guinea pigs in scientific research. (MKUltra)

Four Types of Political Deviance

Which of the behaviors below is referred to as a morals crime?

a. illegal gamblingb. illegal drugsc. prostitutiond. all of these choices

Question

The following behaviors are referred to as a morals crime: illegal gambling, illegal drugs and prostitution.

Answer: d

Arrest Rates by Sex, 2003

Arrest Rates by Race, 2002

Discretionary Powers in Law Enforcement

Refers to more than 55,000 local, state, and federal agencies that enforce laws, adjudicate crimes, and treat and rehabilitate criminals.

Includes police, courts, corrections facilities, and employs more than 2 million people in 17,000 police agencies, nearly 17,000 courts, more than 8,000 prosecutorial agencies, about 6,000 correctional institutions, and more than 3,500 probation and parole departments.

Criminal Justice System

Refers to the use of personal judgment by police officers, prosecutors, judges, and other criminal justice system officials regarding how to proceed in a given situation.

Example: The police have the power to selectively enforce the law and have on many occasions been accused of being too harsh or too lenient on alleged offenders.

Discretion

Punishment is any action designed to deprive a person of things of value because of some offense the person is thought to have committed.

Punishment and Corrections

1. Retribution - the punishment should fit the crime.

1. Social protection - restrict offenders so they can’t commit further crimes.

Functions of Punishment

3. Rehabilitation - return offenders to the community as law-abiding citizens.

4. Deterrence - reduce criminal activity through a fear of punishment.

Functions of Punishment

From the following list, what do you feel should be the most important function of prison?a. Punish people for crimes they committed.b. Rehabilitate people who committed crimes.c. Protect society by locking away criminals.d. Serve as a warning.e. Make people pay back society for the

crimes they have committed.f. Don't know

Question

Capital punishment, or the death penalty, has been used in the United States as an appropriate and justifiable response to very serious crimes.

In 2002, 71 inmates were executed and more than 3,500 people awaited execution.

2/3 of those on death row are in southern states, including Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Texas.

The Death Penalty

Death Row Census January 1, 2005

The 1994 United Nations Conference on Global Organized Crime estimated that about $500 billion per year is accrued in the global trade in drugs alone.

Today, profits from all kinds of global criminal activities are estimated to range from $750 billion to more than $1.5 trillion a year.

Global crime

Reducing global crime will require a global response, including:Cooperation of law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and intelligence services across geopolitical boundaries.

Regulation by the international community to control international money laundering and trafficking in people and controlled substances such as drugs and weapons.

Global Crime

Quick Quiz

1. ________ is any belief, behavior, or condition that violates significant social norms in the society or group in which it occurs.

a. Devianceb. Moresc. Taboosd. Crime

• Deviance is any belief, behavior, or condition that violates significant social norms in the society or group in which it occurs.

Answer: A

2. The "good worker" is often an example of what type of adaptation in Strain Theory?

a. innovationb. ritualismc. retreatistd. conformity

The "good worker" is often an example of ritualism in Strain Theory.

Answer: b

3. Punishment is seen as serving four functions. Which item below is NOT one of those functions?

a. innovationb. deterrencec. retributiond. social protection

Punishment is seen as serving four functions. Innovation is NOT one of those functions.

Answer: a

4. ________ refers to the systematic practices that social groups develop in order to encourage conformity to norms, rules, and laws, and to discourage deviance.

a. Criminal justiceb. Deviancec. Law enforcementd. Social control

Social control refers to the systematic practices that social groups develop in order to encourage conformity to norms, rules, and laws, and to discourage deviance.

Answer: d

5. A felony is a serious crime such as rape, and homicide for which punishment means imprisonment from one year to death.

a. Falseb. True.

A felony is a serious crime such as rape, and homicide for which punishment means imprisonment from one year to death.

Answer: b

6. Control Theorists suggest that deviance is more likely to occur when social bonds are strongest.

a. False.b. True.

Control Theorists suggest that deviance is less likely to occur when social bonds are strongest.

Answer: a