Select two questions from the list below and provide a detailed answer to each question in your initial post. Be sure to indicate the number of the questions you selected in front of your answers. In addition, respond to two peers' initial posts who answered different questions than the ones you selected.
These are “think” questions; you will not find a single, simple (or perfect) answer to them in the book. They are designed for you to use what you read in Chapter 12 to think through the issues. Personal feelings and opinions will often come into play but be sure that your answer is grounded in our scholarly study of the subject and that your answer demonstrates that you have read and understood the chapter.
- Consider the problems discussed in the chapter with respect to our legal system. How can the legal system be improved in our large and complex society?
- Consider criminal behavior. Are all activities that are labeled criminal really wrong from an ethical perspective? Where should we draw the line between survival and criminal behavior, e.g.?
- There is apersistentgender gap in criminal behavior, though it changes over time. What explanations exist for this phenomenon? How might the gender gap change in the future? Why?
- Who designs the laws? Do they benefit and protect all citizens equally? Why or why not?
- Who tends to be interested in police work, and why?
Slide 1 Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Chapter 12 Crime and Justice Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Crime in Society Crime is defined as a breaking of the law. Groups and individuals differ in their definition of crime. Lawmaking and enforcement are political. Laws and interpretations change over time. Crime is defined by the powerful in society. Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Crime Rates FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) Based on arrest figures and reports supplied by law enforcement around the country Problem with accuracy in reporting Includes only crimes reported to police Focuses on traditional street crimes and omits white collar, corporate, and organized crime Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Crime Rates National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) Annual Nationally representative survey of households Includes crime not reported to police In 2008, 47% of all violent victimizations and 40% of all property crimes were not reported to police. Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Crime Rates Violent and Property Crimes At lowest levels in over three decades Murder and Non-negligent Manslaughter Significant decrease since 1989 Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Demographic Characteristics of People Arrested for Crime Sex Higher rates of male arrests than females Women’s crime rate is increasing Age Young people commit a disproportionate amount of street crime. Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Demographic Characteristics of People Arrested for Crime Social Class Those arrested are mostly the poor, the undereducated, and the unemployed. Race Blacks are 12.3% of the U.S. population, but constitute 39.4% of arrests for violent crimes and 30.1% of arrests for property crimes. Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Categories of Crime Traditional Street Crimes Burglary, larceny, auto theft, robbery, rape, assault, murder Crimes Against The Moral Order Gambling, recreational drug use, prostitution Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Categories of Crime Organized Crime A business operation that seeks profit by supplying illegal goods and services Depends on the corruption of police and government officials White Collar Crime Embezzlement, bankruptcy fraud et Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Categories of Crime Corporate Crime Business enterprises that are found guilty of crimes Political Crime Illegal acts intended to influence the political system Government itself can be engaged in illicit activities Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Unjust System of Justice Laws: The formation and the administration of laws are political and biased. Police Racial Profiling Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Unjust System of Justice Judicial Process Magistrate and the Setting of Bail Plea Bargaining Adversary System Trial by Jury Sentencing Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Unjust System of Justice Correctional System 23% of world’s inmates are in the U.S. Disproportionate number of inmates are racial and ethnic minorities Biased against the poor and powerless Capital Punishment Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved The Criminal Label Criminal behavior is found throughout society. The poor and racial minorities are disadvantaged at every stage of the criminal process. Consequences of the deviant label Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Stopping the Cradle to Prison Pipeline The pipeline is linked to racial inequality, poverty, and education. High school dropouts are more likely to end up incarcerated. The U.S. must invest in prevention, rather than spending a disproportionate amount on corrections and punishment. Slide 1 Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Chapter 14 The Economy and Work Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Capitalism Four conditions must be present for pure capitalism: Private ownership of property Personal profit Competition Laissez-faire government Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Capitalism The economy of the U.S. is not purely capitalistic. Critique: Promotes inequality Produces social problems because the object is profit, not social justice Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Socialism Five principles: Democratism Egalitarianism Community Public ownership of production Planning for common purposes Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Socialism Critique: Minimizes individual freedom Government monopoly is inefficient High taxes Reduces motivation to succeed Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Mega Economic Trends The structural transformation of the economy Globalization Great Recession Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Structural Transformation of the Economy From agricultural to manufacturing From manufacturing to a service and information economy 8.7% of jobs in the U.S. are in manufacturing. Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Structural Transformation of the Economy The Changing Nature of Jobs Sunset industries Contingent employment Homesourcing The New Jobs Pay Less Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Globalization The processes by which people are increasingly interconnected economically, politically, culturally, and environmentally Capital Flight Offshoring Outsourcing Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved The Great Recession (2007-2010+) Prelude to the Crisis Displaced workers Families in credit debt Subprime housing loans Wall Street Non-interference by government Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved The Great Recession (2007-2010+) The Crisis Defaulting on mortgages Tumbling housing prices Banks collapse Stock market drops Worldwide recession Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved The Great Recession (2007-2010+) Families are Struggling Unemployment: 10% in January 2010 Housing: 2.8 million foreclosure filings in 2009 Financial decline Personal bankruptcies Downward social mobility Hunger Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Work and Social Problems Control of Workers Scientific Management or Taylorization Alienation Karl Marx’s analysis Dangerous Working Conditions Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Work and Social Problems Sweatshops Garment Industry Unions and Their Decline Unions have lost their power since 1980. Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Work and Social Problems Discrimination in the Workplace Segmented Labor Market Male Dominance at Work Job Insecurity Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Work and Social Problems Benefits Insecurity Increased Workload Worker Compensation Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Social Problems, Twelfth Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen, Maxine Baca Zinn, Kelly Eitzen Smith ©2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Work and Social Problems The Problem: Workers or Jobs? Problem is not lack of education but lack of jobs. Today’s young adults are likely to be the first generation to not be better off than their parents.