The purpose of punishment is to maintain the existing social order.
It is part of the repressive state apparatus and is a way of defending ruling class
property.
The R/C make the laws and set the sentences. They do this to benefit themselves.
Harsher sentences are given to W/C crimes.
R/C also use punishment to ‘fool’ W/C into thinking they
are acting in their interests against the unruly part of the
W/C. Evaluation
White collar crimes are given much softer
punishments such as open prison However, due to sentencing
or fines guidelines there is often not
much room for discretion.
Laws are passed democratically through
parliament, so should reflect the interests of
Crime and the whole population.
Deviance -
Punishment in
Marxism