Using sociological evidence and examples, explain why some people from ethnic minority backgrounds are thought to commit more crime than others.
Using sociological evidence and examples, explain why some people from ethnic minority backgrounds are thought to commit more crime than others. (20) Within the UK, the white ethnic group amounted to around 87% of the population at the time of the last census, with people from all ethnic minority groups adding up to around 4,624,500. London is the most ethnically diverse population in the UK, and Wales the least. If all things were equal, members of ethnic minorities would appear in CJS statistics in similar proportions to their appearance in the general population. However, where data is available, BME people are over-represented in the CJS. For example, statistics show that in 2011/12 black people were six or seven times more likely to be stopped and searched than white people, while Asian people were three times more likely to be stopped and searched under the terrorism act 2000. When examining self-report studies and victim surveys statistics, contrast is noticeable. The British crime survey indicated that 44% of victims were able to say something about their offender, among these 85% of offenders were said to be white, 5% black and 3% Asian, however when looking at report studies, graham and bowling found that black and white people had almost identical rates of offending (44% white and 43% black) . other self-report studies show similar patterns, discrediting the
Examine the role of access to opportunity structures in causing crime and deviance (12 marks)
Syeda Begum Examine the role of access to opportunity structures in causing crime and deviance (12 marks) Opportunity structures can be described as pathway which can lead towards or away from deviant or criminal behavior. for example if someone does not have access to the legitimate opportunity structure of education to achieve goals they may look to other, illegitimate opportunities and which can lead to them committing crime or engaging in deviant behaviour. One theory that supports the role of access to opportunity structures in causing crime and deviance is unequal opportunities which lead the cause of crime. Merton used the strain theory to explain deviance found in society. He belives there the persons position on the social structure effects the way they resond or adapt to the stain to anomie. Most people have the same goals such as –finatuall success, own house a nice car. People who are unable to achieve what is the said to be the goals for the universal goals of society, may not feel socially accepted therefore turn to crime and deviance as a solution. Merton argues that there is different 'modes of adaptation' .Some people conform which means that they accept the rules and the system of mertoracy and strive to achieve legitimately. However the people who are likely to conform are middle class and already have a good opportunity to thieve and succeed, this is
Examine some of the ways in which Marxists explain crime.
Examine some of the ways in which Marxists explain crime Marxist theories of crime, including the more recent neo-Marxist theories, are conflict approaches. They see society based on conflict between social classes, and social inequality caused by capitalism as the driving force behind crime. Traditional Marxists say that capitalism causes crimes, the term we use for this is criminogenic capitalism; capitalism, by its very nature causes crime. Crime and deviance are systematically created by the structure of capitalist society, the ruling class exploit the working class as they own the means of production. It breeds competition and commodity fetishism, whereby people gain a desire for material things. The people in question become obsessed with personal gain and coming out on top, breaking the law is a small price to pay for the reward of success. David Gordon argues that crime is a response to the capitalist system and is found in every single part of the class structure, even if the official statistics mark it out to be a working class problem. Marxists see law making and law enforcement as serving the interest of capitalism, Chambliss argues that law to protect private property are made to protect the interest of the dominant and capitalist or ruling class because they decide as to what constitutes as crime. Laureen Snider argues that the state is reluctant to pass
Examine the patterns of, and reasons for, domestic violence in society
Alice Thorpe Essay Question Examine the patterns of, and reasons for, domestic violence in society (24 marks) Domestic violence is the physical, psychological, sexual or financial violence that takes place within a relationship that creates a pattern of coercive and controlling behaviour. In society, domestic violence is seen as wrong, yet it still happens. Some people believe that a minority of people behave in this manner because of psychological causes rather than social ones, however a number of sociologists have challenged this view. Domestic violence follows a social pattern and it is mainly violence by men towards women. Although this doesn’t mean that it is only women that are the victims of domestic violence, men can also be equally affected by such behaviour. Mirrlees-Black conducted a study and found that most victims are women and that nearly 1 in 4 women has been assaulted by a partner at some time in her life, and 1 in 8 repeatedly so. This theory is backed up by Russel and Rebecca Dobash’s study of police and court records. They found that this type of violence is often caused by the man seeing a challenge to his authority, and that marriage encourages this as the traditional roles of man and wife still stand, if not as strong, in today’s society. This links domestic violence to the time period within which it took place, because if these sociologists
Describe Law and Order In London In the Late Nineteenth Century
Describe Law and Order In London In the Late Nineteenth Century The British police force came into being in the late eighteenth century. By 1800 there were only two police forces in Britain which were both in London. One was the Bow Street Runners which was set up in 1749 and the other was the Thames River Police Force which was then only two years old. The main turning point for policing as far as London was concerned came in 1829 when 'Sir Robert Peel', the home secretary during that time created and set up a new police force called the 'Metropolitan Police Force' (The Met). The Met was set up to carry out all the jobs that the watchmen and special constables did before the birth of the Metropolitan Police. Their jobs were to patrol the streets to keep them in order and to try to prevent crimes. On some occasions, the Metropolitan Police Force would join with the army to tackle the more major crimes such as riots. This would often prove to be unpopular with the public, as the army would have been used before the creation of the Met to break up popular riots and demonstrations. Obviously, as the riots and demonstrations were popular, the public were not in favour of the Metropolitan Police for using the army. Initially, the duties of the police were not the tasks that we would associate with the police of today as they had to carry out many other ordinary, tedious tasks
Describe law and order in London in the late nineteenth century.
Question 1. Describe law and order in London in the late nineteenth century. In the nineteenth century, London had many problems with crime; there was a major increase in murders and street crimes. By 1840, criminal offences had risen from 5000 to 20000 in just 40 years; this became increasingly difficult for the newly found Metropolitan Police Force, which was set up in 1829 by home secretary sir Robert Peel. Before the Metropolitan Police Force was set up, crime was often kept down by watchmen and parish constables, who patrolled the streets of the towns and cities, this was probably successful as they were locals and knew the area and people well. Police work had started to improve by the nineteenth century and that had brought the crime rate down, during this period, the roles of the police had started to transform as they were not just there to deter crime, but also there to solve crime. During the 19th century the police were not very liked as they had a very bad reputation for handling protests and riots. Punishment was also changed during this period, capital punishment was abolished for most crimes, but still stood there for murder and treason but other than that, other means of punishment were introduced. On the whole, the police force changed dramatically in the way crime was handled, punishment for criminally and the jobs of the police. The 'Metropolitan Police
Describe law and order in London in the late nineteenth century
Describe law and order in London in the late nineteenth century The nineteenth century saw the creation and extension of many new police forces within London. In 1800 there were two main police forces in Britain. The bow street runners had been operating since 1749, and the Thames River police had been set up in 1788. In 1829 Victorian London saw the founding of the Metropolitan police force. Before the creation of the Metropolitan police the towns of Britain were looked after by watchmen and parish constables. Little is known about these men. Special constables were also appointed in Victorian Britain. They were not very affective as they could not deal with big disturbance or riots, which happened frequently in Britain. The founder of the new Metropolitan police force, Sir Robert Peel, was the British home secretary and his police force still exists in modern day London. Robert Peel also gave officers there more informal names 'Bobbies' as we call them now, or 'Peelers'. The Metropolitan police headquarters remains till this day at 4 Whitehall Place. Once the land of Scottish kings the headquarters was suitably name 'Scotland Yard'. The Metropolitan police force was destined to fail with its minute force compared to the 1.5 million population of London. Before the Metropolitan police the only forces which successfully kept the streets of London under-control to an extent
Describe law and order in London in the late nineteenth century.
Question 1. Describe law and order in London in the late nineteenth century. In the nineteenth century, London had many problems with crime; there was a major increase in murders and street crimes. By 1840, criminal offences had risen from 5000 to 20000 in just 40 years; this became increasingly difficult for the newly found Metropolitan Police Force, which was set up in 1829 by home secretary sir Robert Peel. Before the Metropolitan Police Force was set up, crime was often kept down by watchmen and parish constables, who patrolled the streets of the towns and cities, this was probably successful as they were locals and knew the area and people well. Police work had started to improve by the nineteenth century and that had brought the crime rate down, during this period, the roles of the police had started to transform as they were not just there to deter crime, but also there to solve crime. During the 19th century the police were not very liked as they had a very bad reputation for handling protests and riots. Punishment was also changed during this period, capital punishment was abolished for most crimes, but still stood there for murder and treason but other than that, other means of punishment were introduced. On the whole, the police force changed dramatically in the way crime was handled, punishment for criminally and the jobs of the police. The 'Metropolitan Police
Describe law and order in London in the late nineteenth century
JAMES TOOKMAN: GCSE HISTORY COURSEWORK JACK THE RIPPER QUESTION 1: Describe law and order in London in the late nineteenth century [15] The specific idea of a police force was invented in 1829. Up until this point, law and order was the responsibility of the local justice of the peace helped by watchmen and parish constables as well as the occasional special constable. This was a fairly effective system however the job was part time and there was no rigidity to the force, which meant it had trouble dealing with crimes beyond ' small disturbances'. In 1829 the Home Secretary, Sir Robert Peel, set up the Metropolitan police. It was set up to carry out the functions of the watchmen and special constables by patrolling the streets keeping order and deterring crime. They also dealt with major disturbances such as riots, previously the job of the unpopular army who always made things worse. In fact, the metropolitan police grew to appear as far detached from the army as possible. The army wore red so the police wore blue tailcoats, a top hat and as few badges and decorations as possible. Nicknamed 'bobbies' the Met was housed in Scotland Yard. They were armed with truncheons, constables with cutlasses, and from the 1840'sinspectors began to carry revolvers. In1839 a two major innovations took place. The City Police was set up responsible to the Corporation of the City of London
Describe Law and Order in the late Nineteenth century.
Describe Law and Order in the late Nineteenth century Queen Victoria reigned from 1837-1901, a time which changed Britain drastically. When Queen Victoria was born, in 1819, Britain was a very disorderly and undisciplined country. Crime flourished, especially theft of all kinds, and everyone feared that the nation was on the verge of a revolution. But despite this, most Britons prided themselves as being free men, and so the notion of police forces was rejected. They thought that having a disciplined force would turn them into slaves. By the end of Queen Victoria's reign, Britain had changed drastically. The law enforcement system we have today in Britain is very different from how it was 200 years ago, in the Victorian era. Our law and order system at the present time is very complicated and all this developed and expanded from the nineteenth century. In 1880, there were two main law enforcement groups in the whole of England - the Bow Street Runners and the Thames Valley Police (or the Marine Police), both of which were situated in London. The Bow Street Runners were set up in the mid eighteenth century (1749) and were the first police force in Britain. They were established at Bow Street and were quite successful - they even launched the Bow Street horse patrol. The Thames Valley Police were formed a little later, in 1798 and patrolled the areas up and down the River
