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1 Conflict Criminology and Sociology Erin Carr CRJ 512 Criminological Theory Instructor: Fred Newell 26 April 2022

2 Introduction Society will stick to what it is comfortable with. Is it crime? Is it politics? Is it keeping a well- established economic status? This paper will describe the relationship between crime and society. Reactions and authoritative repercussions are important to note when seeking criminal opportunities. Different locations are subjected to different standards. Rates will differ and so will the communities’ morals and behaviors. This all leads to different crime causations. While people will always have an opinion, the conflict theory is related to both criminology and sociology because politics play a role and influence crime rates in the lower class. Conflict Theory’s Relationship to Criminology and Sociology Criminology is the study of crime. Learning all about life, economics, politics, and causes of crime are important to note while looking at crime. Like said before, gangs and social power can be used to make others comply, commit crimes, or gain class. Siegel states that “One is the use and misuse of power, or the ability of persons and groups to determine and control the behavior of others and to shape public opinion to meet their personal interests” (Siegel, 2015, chap. 8, p. 201, para. 3). Socialization is a part of human life. We socialize and gain relationships that evolve our lifestyles and support systems. Criminology: The Core states “our relationships can be either positive and supportive or dysfunctional and destructive” (Siegel, 2015, chap. 7, p. 168, para 2). Interaction with others is crucial to the future of socialization because it shapes the society. There are several factors that tie into criminology and sociology. Variables such as religion, economics, location, politics, race, gender, and age. These naturally segregate individuals into their own tiers. Poor socialization and economic negativity are very prevalent in lower class neighborhoods. Conflict is the path of dysfunctional and destructive relationships, standards, and morals. When one is raised in a lower-class neighborhood, with crime around them, corrupt government systems, and

3 misbehavior, learning children will likely pick up the behavior and apply it. Kids that do not know any better, don’t understand that what they are doing is wrong. Citizens in neighborhoods like this have more broken homes and less affection offered to them. The text states “children who have warm and affectionate ties to their parents report greater levels of self-esteem beginning in adolescence and extending into their adult-hood; high self-esteem is inversely related to criminal behavior" (Siegel, 2015, chap. 7, p. 169, para. 2). Unlike the children with loving homes, children with more broken homes often see abuse, neglect, and violence within their homes as well as on the streets. Adolescents and adults around conflicted activities tend to be aggressive, antisocial, turn to drugs for support or participate more productive in criminal activities. They may lack self-esteem day to day and turn to crime because they are efficient in that. For example, “joining a gang or deviant group may help members increase their social standing and popularity" (Siegel, 2015, chap. 7, p. 173, para. 3). Individuals are seeking stress relief, or a source of positive reassurance. Politics and Crime Rates Crime rates tend to spike in places of lower class. Poverty attracts a lot of crime because people need to eat, pay bills, or get to places. Rational Choice Theory is a theory that individuals peruse often. People that are in need seek out rational behaviors to survive. Like stated before, shoplifting food to eat, stealing money to pay bills, or hotwiring a car to get to a place on time. Often of getting caught doing the crime will reap them great benefits and that’s another reason they thought it was a rational choice. Illinois Wesleyan University submitted an article that stated “If they successfully pull off the crime, like robbery, then they benefit greatly. If they do get caught in the act, they are sent to jail where food, water and shelter is provided for them” (Quednau, 2021, p. 9). After this they will be better off in a facility than on the streets. It is really all a game of politics.

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4 Politics are everywhere, it is inevitable to avoid. Countries practice and believe in different political measures, resulting in different reaction and restoration, methods. For instance, “Japan, in which conviction for crimes brings an inordinate amount of shame, have extremely low crime rates” (Siegel, 2015, chap. 8, p. 219, para. 3). Continuing, Japan also has “criminal prosecution proceeds only when the normal process of public apology, compensation, and the victim’s forgiveness breaks down” (Siegel, 2015, chap. 8, p. 219, para. 3). Like mentioned before, economic class has a toll in the political system. People who are not able to obtain resources will turn to crime. People that are not involved in politics, running from police, or have a hatred towards police officers or other political people have no desire to vote or act within their community. There are a few that stand out and want to fight for their right and make things better. Politics have changed dramatically since Covid 19 and the George Floyd incident. This incident shifted societies views and made the Black Lives Matter movement more present than ever. Policing went from very strict, to almost non-existent in some cities. Seattle and Portland have defunded policing measures, and reestablished rules for police to follow when it comes to use of force. The CCJ reported that, “the largest share of Americans (42%) said they wanted police funding in their area to stay the same. Only one in ten said they’d prefer that policing funding be decreased a lot” (Crabtree, Gramlich, Lowery, Walsh, 2020). This all stems from political voting and races. The Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ) also stated in an article that “Republicans are more likely to approve of the police because they’re there to enforce law and order, while Democrats are more likely to disapprove when they hear about police misconduct because it violates their strong sense of social justice,” Crabtree said” (Crabtree, Gramlich, Lowery, Walsh, 2020). There will always be differences in political views. People who want change need to fight for it and make their voices heard.

5 Crime Causation The sociological schools of crime causation relate to criminology and sociological conflict theories because, it explains and relates crime to the individual. Structural functionalism is the first school of crime causation, and it is, the institutional structures around us. Structures such as political systems, police officers, churches, education, and healthcare. This theory believes that “the law is designed to keep the capitalist system operating in an efficient manner” (Siegel, 2015, chap. 8, p. 203). This leads to stress and strain in relationships, and communities. Social Strain is when people are stressed and are looking for a means of relieving their stress or achieving their goals. Often this leads to violence, shoplifting to feed families, or stealing money to access things not feasible otherwise. The Conflict Theory is saying that crime results from human conflict (Siegel, 2015). People who have opposing views may lash out, riot, or commit crimes in order to express their opinions. Trespassing, vandalism, larceny, and murder might be an expression of different opinions in the eyes of others. Lastly, social reaction or Labeling Theory is one that comes from individual’s reactions to crimes. Described by Siegel (2015), “murder, rape, and assault are bad or evil only because people label them as such” and he continued saying “Acts such as performing an abortion, using marijuana, possessing a handgun, and gambling have been legal at some times and places and illegal at others” (Siegel, 2015, chap. 8, p. 185). These theories describe and relate why or how the people are classified as criminals or deviants. Human beings drift towards normalcy in their community and stick together with people they are comfortable with. A group of individuals from Compton, and a clique from Bismarck, North Dakota probably might not see eye to eye about everything.

6 Conclusion In the end, communities will stick together and form their own little cliques. Poorer communities will act differently than wealthy upper-class communities. Their morals and beliefs, ages, genders, and races will all differ. Factors branch out to the different schools of causation and motivation behind the crime. People are going to stand up for what they believe in and provide the best form themselves. There are resources out there in all communities for everyone. It is just the willingness of help and vulnerability people must suppress. While people will always have an opinion, the conflict theory is related to both criminology and sociology because politics play a role and influence crime rates in the lower class.

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7 References CrashCourse. (2017, April 17). Karl Marx & conflict theory: Crash course sociology #6. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR3igiwaeyc&feature=youtu.be Crabtree, S., Gramlich, J., Lowery, W., Walsh, A. (2020). Public Perceptions of the Police. Council on the Criminal Justice. Retrieved from https://counciloncj.org/public-perceptions-of-the-police/ . Schmalleger, F. J. (2012). Criminology today: An integrative introduction (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Siegel, L. J. (2015). Criminology: The core (5th ed.). Retrieved from https://redshelf.com/

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