Criminology Unit 10- Exam Questions and Correct Answers Graded A+ (100% Pass)
Historical Development - Answers Part of struggle over social and human rights
Began with labelling theory
Relations of power in society
Identify link between dominant institutions and ruling-class interests
Left realism emerged as direct response to NRC (concerned with marginalization and policing reform to
consensus-style)
Social Context - Answers Wide range of theoretical and political positions but espouses an anti-capitalist
position
Demise of Stalinism in 1980s and age of uncertainty
Rapid change
Wealth and power concentrated
New social movements (gay, womens, enviro, animal, etc.)
glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring)
Postmodernism - Answers Concerned with meaning, social difference, and discourse analysis
Focus on deconstruction of language and meaning of law
Use of "postmodernism" term - Answers analysis of postmodern trends
idea of a most modern society
postmodern techniques
postmodern theory
The Risk Society: Postmodernism - Answers Related to technological change and globalization resulting
in:
ontological insecurity -> feeling of physical and psychological risk due to rapid changes
individualization -> the process by which individuals are made more responsible for their well being
Pollution, global warming and crime are global threats to life
Two General Trends in Critical Criminology - Answers 1. Structuralist approach: tends to focus on power
as ingrained in social structures that manifests in institutional actions and activities of interest groups
, 2. Postmodern approach: power seen in terms of language and knowledge production shaping human
experience and meaning
Structuralist Criminology: Definition of Crime - Answers Defined in terms of oppression
Vulnerable groups: working class, women, ethnic minorities, Indigenous Peoples
Structuralist Criminology: Causes of Crime - Answers Growing disparities
For powerful: pressures associated with securing/maintaining state power
Less powerful: marginalization in society and an increase in criminalization (i.e. police responses)
Structuralist Criminology: Response to Crime - Answers Social empowerment:
redistribute social resources based on need
participatory democracy
recommendations of TRC illustrate this
Structuralist Criminology: Crime Prevention - Answers Emphasis on extending and protecting basic
human rights
i.e. anti-racist/sexist campagins
Postmodernism: Definitions of Crime - Answers Defined in terms of linguistic production and
relationship of power:
language structures thought
communication/language tools of social control by those in power
no objective truths (not absolute)
Postmodernism: Focus of Analysis - Answers Expose the process whereby certain groups are socially
excluded
Examine questions of state power
Those who control means of expression hold key to controlling power over others
Postmodernism: Cause of Crime - Answers Linguistic domination criminalizes the speech, thought, and
behavior that resists or delegitimizes the dominant discourse
Hegemony of dominant leads to suppression and conformity
Postmodernism: Preventing Crime - Answers Expose the ways in which the CJS is languaged (judge is
rational, victim is not)
Historical Development - Answers Part of struggle over social and human rights
Began with labelling theory
Relations of power in society
Identify link between dominant institutions and ruling-class interests
Left realism emerged as direct response to NRC (concerned with marginalization and policing reform to
consensus-style)
Social Context - Answers Wide range of theoretical and political positions but espouses an anti-capitalist
position
Demise of Stalinism in 1980s and age of uncertainty
Rapid change
Wealth and power concentrated
New social movements (gay, womens, enviro, animal, etc.)
glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring)
Postmodernism - Answers Concerned with meaning, social difference, and discourse analysis
Focus on deconstruction of language and meaning of law
Use of "postmodernism" term - Answers analysis of postmodern trends
idea of a most modern society
postmodern techniques
postmodern theory
The Risk Society: Postmodernism - Answers Related to technological change and globalization resulting
in:
ontological insecurity -> feeling of physical and psychological risk due to rapid changes
individualization -> the process by which individuals are made more responsible for their well being
Pollution, global warming and crime are global threats to life
Two General Trends in Critical Criminology - Answers 1. Structuralist approach: tends to focus on power
as ingrained in social structures that manifests in institutional actions and activities of interest groups
, 2. Postmodern approach: power seen in terms of language and knowledge production shaping human
experience and meaning
Structuralist Criminology: Definition of Crime - Answers Defined in terms of oppression
Vulnerable groups: working class, women, ethnic minorities, Indigenous Peoples
Structuralist Criminology: Causes of Crime - Answers Growing disparities
For powerful: pressures associated with securing/maintaining state power
Less powerful: marginalization in society and an increase in criminalization (i.e. police responses)
Structuralist Criminology: Response to Crime - Answers Social empowerment:
redistribute social resources based on need
participatory democracy
recommendations of TRC illustrate this
Structuralist Criminology: Crime Prevention - Answers Emphasis on extending and protecting basic
human rights
i.e. anti-racist/sexist campagins
Postmodernism: Definitions of Crime - Answers Defined in terms of linguistic production and
relationship of power:
language structures thought
communication/language tools of social control by those in power
no objective truths (not absolute)
Postmodernism: Focus of Analysis - Answers Expose the process whereby certain groups are socially
excluded
Examine questions of state power
Those who control means of expression hold key to controlling power over others
Postmodernism: Cause of Crime - Answers Linguistic domination criminalizes the speech, thought, and
behavior that resists or delegitimizes the dominant discourse
Hegemony of dominant leads to suppression and conformity
Postmodernism: Preventing Crime - Answers Expose the ways in which the CJS is languaged (judge is
rational, victim is not)
