Theories of Crime

Comparison Essay # 102527

Criminology
Political Science > Marx / Engels

Theories of Crime

This paper compares the Marxist perspective of crime with the left realist view.

1,120 words () | 3 sources | APA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

The paper explains how the Marxist perspective of crime reveals vastly different ideals when compared to the left realist view of crime. The paper discusses how they are both conflict-oriented theories of crime and both have aspects which are at once compelling and unconvincing. The paper concludes that overall, left realism seems more suited to the analysis of crime in today's global society.

Outline:
Introduction
Marxist Approach to Crime
The Left Realist Approach to Crime
The Two Perspectives
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Under the Marxian Critique of Criminal Justice, the fact under capitalist law is "exchange". The economic relation between the two bodies of an exchange is not a relation of wills, but merely the response of an economic exchange. There is utter freedom in the exchange, making it a free exchange. Crime occurs when coercive measures intercede, and the exchange involves capitalist ownership and worker ownership - an imbalance that is rectified by legislation (Reimen, 2003, p. 180). The law, in Marx's opinion, averages out the commonalities of exchange; and it is applied thusly, not on an individual case basis. According to Marx, criminal law remedy typically involves punishment in response to heinous action. Crime is the result of a violation of a normal exchange, whereby one's property (including his or her body) is violated. In response, the law is equalizing in that working classes and ruling classes are held equally accountable. Punishment matches the crime, and punishment is only allowable when the transgression was committed freely."

Sample of Sources Used:

Reimen, J. (2003). The Marxian Critique of Criminal Justice: From Theories of Crime, Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc., 179-188.
Williams, F. P. & McShane, M.D. (1994). Criminological Theory. 4th Ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
Young, J. (2003). The Failure of Criminology: From Theories of Crime, Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc., 192-199.