Social Consequences of Inequality

Roderick GrahamFordham University

Main Topics The measurement of crime Street crimes

Who commits them and why (what are the factors leading to their commission)

How does inequality affect sentencing White collar crimes

Who commits them and why

The Measurement of Crime Groups that are more powerful in society get to

determine what behaviors are criminal and what behaviors are not

Behaviors of low status groups more likely to be considered “criminal”

Once a crime is defined, the enforcement of those crimes is determined by the SES and race of the citizens

Thus…crime and its measurement is socially constructed

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/30/fashion/30baggy.html?ex=1346126400&en=47547e34339dc9d7&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

The Social Construction of Crime Fines of up to $500 or a six-month sentence in

cities across the country (local ordinances in towns…no state law)

These ordinances have come at the urging of largely African-American lawmakers!

Street CrimesStatistics Crimes determined by FBI crime index (chart

above was FBI data)

In 2007 over 2.2 million arrests were made. ¾ of those arrested were men Overall most arrested were white, but blacks were

disproportionately represented

Street CrimesWhat effects arrest rates? There is a relationship between official crime

rates and SES. Law enforcement increases its efforts and makes more arrests due to:

The racial makeup of a community (more black/brown = more attention paid)

The stereotypes and perceptions of police

Street CrimesWhat causes the commission of street crime? In general, societal pressure affect all social

groups the same, however blacks face these societal pressures more than other groups Inadequate education Poverty Economic Inequality Social isolation/segregation Underemployment and Unemployment

No surprise…these are the

things we saw in our last video!

Street Crimes

A Quick Note Your textbooks’ discussion of how social factors affect

human behavior points to something very fundamental:

We like to focus on individual morality and group cultures as complements to structural influences. However…

The individual/social group is interchangeable…structural influences do not discriminate. Throughout history and in all societies, crime follows the social factors we have just mentioned. No group is immune.

Street Crimes – The Effect of Residential Segregation

Page 267 in Hurst

Street CrimesInequality and Criminal Sentencing In general, those with lower SES or minorities

tend to have longer sentences Why?

Blacks and Hispanics arrested for “minority crimes” are given harsher sentences

Stereotypes – blacks are seen as a social threat and need to be put away

White Collar CrimeWhat is white-collar crime? OLD: “a crime committed by a person of respectability

and high social status in the course of his occupation”

NEW: Nonviolent crime for financial gain committed by means of deception by persons whose occupational status is entrepreneurial, professional or semi-professional and utilizing their special occupational skills and opportunities; also, nonviolent crime for financial gain utilizing deception and committed by anyone having special technical and professional knowledge of business and government, irrespective of the person’s occupation

White Collar CrimeWhat is white-collar crime? Also called “suite” crimes

Not a part of the FBI crime index

Losses to victims of $250B annually (street crimes $18B)

Involve more than one victim

Erodes faith in social institutions (I am confused by this…I understand social institutions to be work, family, education, religion)…maybe bureaucracies/organizations?

White Collar CrimePunishment Stereotypes (middle class, white) and the

public’s misunderstanding or lack of knowledge of crime leads to less negative views of white collar criminals Malfeasance? Insider trading?

In general white collar criminals are given lighter sentences

White Collar CrimeWhat causes white collar crime? Low likelihood of harsh punishment Greed and immorality – “a few bad apples” Corporate culture of competition, winners, and

losers – its ok to cheat if you can get away with it and make money

Political and economic structure - Federal laws are ambiguous; deregulation has created “wild-west” style competition; pro-business climate

“Strain” Theory of Deviance

“Strain” = the pressure to reach society’s goals without the appropriate opportunities available

Crime breeds in the gap, between culturally induced aspirations for economic success and structurally distributed possibilities of achievement.

“Strain” Theory of Deviance

Most People

Alcoholics, Drug-Addicts

Low SES Individuals

Criminal Behavior

END