Prior to beginning work on this assignment, watch Crimes of the Powerful, available through the Films on Demand database in the University of Arizona Global Campus Library. Additionally, read Chapters 5 and 6 from the textbook. Our justice system tends to focus on street crime, often ignoring much more significant problems such as white-collar, corporate, and state crime. The video also discusses euthanasia, although the point of this reference is to illustrate how the law can be used as a tool for social change. The video also discusses moral values with a focus on media coverage of harm to children. Laws have changed in direct response to these incidents and the resulting media coverage. In effect, this coverage becomes an engine for social change. The video ends with a discussion of crime theory, reminding us that many criminological theories fall short when applied to people with wealth and high status. Write a paper discussing the myths and realities of crime.
Imagine asking 100 strangers to describe a criminal.
Predict whether those descriptions would be likely to focus on street criminals, or the variety of topics covered in the Crimes of the Powerful
Evaluate how society defines crime.
Do not provide a definition – instead, explain how the definition is reached.
Present a clear statement about a particular crime, something we know to be absolutely true.
Illustrate how we know that this is an accurate statement.
Present an example of a widely-held myth or misconception about crime and society.
Determine how we know that this is a myth. Explain why this myth is so difficult to abandon.
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The myths and realities of crime have been shaped by various factors, including media portrayal, societal norms, and personal experiences. This paper will discuss these factors and how they contribute to the misperceptions surrounding crime.
When asking 100 strangers to describe a criminal, it is likely that the majority of their descriptions would focus on street criminals rather than the topics covered in Crimes of the Powerful. This is because society, through media and popular culture, tends to highlight street crime more prominently than white-collar, corporate, and state crime. Street criminals are often portrayed as dangerous, violent individuals who pose a direct threat to public safety. On the other hand, crimes committed by powerful individuals or entities may be seen as less tangible or immediate in their impact, making them less salient in people's minds.
The definition of crime is reached through a combination of legal statutes, social norms, and the consensus of the community. Laws define what constitutes a crime, but societal values and expectations also play a significant role in shaping our perception of criminal behavior. It is a dynamic process influenced by cultural, historical, and political factors.
An example of a clear and absolutely true statement about a particular crime is that murder is illegal. Murder is universally recognized as a crime in almost every society around the world. We know this is an accurate statement because it is codified in legal systems, and individuals who commit murder are subject to criminal prosecution.
A widely-held myth or misconception about crimes and society is that poverty is the primary driver of criminal behavior. While there is a correlation between poverty and crime rates, it is not a direct causal relationship. Numerous studies have shown that poverty alone does not lead to criminal behavior. Rather, it is a complex interplay of various factors such as education, social environment, and access to opportunities that contribute to criminal tendencies. This myth persists due to the societal tendency to scapegoat marginalized populations and oversimplify the reasons behind criminal behavior.
The difficulty in abandoning this myth lies in its simplicity and the reinforcement it receives from media narratives. It is much easier for society to attribute crime to a single factor, such as poverty, rather than exploring the complex web of social, economic, and psychological influences that contribute to criminal behavior. Furthermore, addressing the root causes of crime, such as systemic inequalities and social disorganization, requires long-term structural changes that may be more challenging to implement than simply focusing on poverty as the sole explanation for criminal activity.
In conclusion, the myths and realities of crime are shaped by a variety of factors, including media portrayal, societal norms, and personal experiences. Asking 100 strangers to describe a criminal would likely result in a focus on street criminals, as society tends to emphasize this type of crime. The definition of crime is reached through a combination of legal statutes, social norms, and community consensus. Murder being illegal is an absolutely true statement that is universally recognized. The myth that poverty is the primary driver of criminal behavior persists due to societal tendencies to oversimplify complex issues and the reinforcement it receives from media narratives.
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