The Realist
The Realist argues that it is a combination of many things that in turn can produce certain individuals to commit crime, and believe that by identifying and controlling ‘incivility’, the criminal justice system can be seen to reflect what the rest of society wants to see and that is, criminals offending less. Realist criminology focuses on the criminal and the victim, what societal values exist and how they affect the population. How society reacts towards crime is a key factor for realism, as is how the criminal responds towards legislation and its relevant institutions. They do not necessarily rule out other criminologists arguments but work with what is available to them and in turn offer arguments that they believe to be what society is saying. Criminologists in this field look at the ‘background’ of an individual and question whether the circumstances in which they live in could be responsible for causing him or her to offend. As Realism focuses on lived realities, social situations are primarily researched and the circumstances that surround a particular offender become the central point when analyzing exactly what turns an individual into a criminal.
With this in mind, if an individual lives in a poor area where poverty and unemployment statistics are high, drugs abuse is visible, street crime is accepted as part of everyday life, paid labour is low, it can almost be argued as predictable when an individual behaves in a criminal manner. This is what is seen and heard on a daily basis, their role models may also be criminally active and in turn they are in fact copying a ‘learnt’ behaviour. This does not mean to say that an individual will necessarily become a criminal because of their background, as clearly there are many people who do live in these circumstances that do not commit crimes, but rather that for particular individuals the circumstances within which they live, have caused them to act unlawfully. Left realist criminologists call this relative deprivation and it is what they believe to be a step on the ladder towards criminal behaviour.
The ‘Left’ Realist - The left believe they are in tune with peoples fears and argue that it is this fear that reflects the reality of inner city crime. They are aware of the effect crime has on society and its communities, and as ‘Lea and Young’ put it, ‘…(crime) stems from economic and political discontent and an absence of economic opportunities…’
Left Realism points to a square of crime involving the interaction between police and other agencies of social control, the public, the offender and the victim. There is no one direction for blame or excuse and it goes beyond vulnerable victim, police and criminal offender. The background of an offender is explored and their lack of morality is questioned why opting to a life of crime and committing offences is a path they chose. However many people disconnect themselves from the circumstances that led an individual to commit crime and want to see that the police and the criminal justice system are working together to reprimand potential offenders. In the case of burglary, how many victims would accept that it is the fault of a sustained economy that drove someone to burgle their home? It is unlikely that the victim would blame themselves for consuming ‘nice’ things so it must simple lie totally on the shoulders of the criminal. With Realism everything is explored and this is why there has to be an interaction between the victim, the offender, the police and other social agencies.
The victim needs to know that his or her offender will be punished; the offender needs to be aware that he or she will face consequences when breaking the law, and the police and the criminal justice system have to be seen to be acting on behalf of society, removing incivility when necessary. Many agencies as well as the public now work with the police and criminal justice systems, in order to protect themselves as well as certain self help groups and agencies that help and encourage criminals to start a new life without crime. For example; the interference of social workers can prevent certain criminal offences occurring by working with families who have problems; or neighbourhood watch schemes that offer the comfort of knowing that your home is safer due to public awareness and police information and support. CCTV cameras installed in shopping malls, car parks etc. can help police put a name to an offender and result in an arrest. Left realism concentrates on real crimes and real crimes today for society are what they see and here about in the media, on TV. and witness for themselves on the streets.
However Realism acknowledges that patterns are constantly changing over time and the square of crime represents this. Police policies and practices change as does how they perceive criminal offences, i.e. the relaxed approach of the police to persons using cannabis in Brixton. It is this relationship with the public that determines their competency to solve crimes and what is taken seriously as a crime. Interacting together helps keep social relationships united. Discontent is what leads to crime when individuals feel marginalised socially and politically.
The ‘right’ Realist – Most of the arguments provided by the right, appears to be focussed around what type of environment the criminal has grown up in, as well as the circumstances that
Solutions
For realism, then, the control of crime involves interventions on all levels: on the social causes of crime, on social control exercised by the community and the formal agencies, and on the situation of the victim.
