Myths
A. Part of the sociological enterprise is busting myths - or putting
‘common sense understandings' to the empirical test.
Peter Berger said:
"The fascination of sociology lies in the fact that its perspective
makes us see in a new light the very world in which we have lived
all of our lives. This constitutes a transformation of consciousness...
It can be said that the first wisdom of sociology is this -- things are
not what they seem."
B. Today we are going to challenge several myths about crime by seeing
if they hold up to empirical data.
I. MYTH #1 CRIME IS INCREASING IN THE UNITED STATES & WE ARE IN MUCH GREATER
DANGER OFBEING VICTIMS OF CRIME TODAY THAN IN THE PAST.
A. Myth Fueled by politicians, the press, and reports by law enforcement
agencies.
1. Politicians mentioned "getting tough" on crime as the most
salient issue in 1992 and 1994.
2. Within a 5 year span, incidents of crime shown on television
news have increased over 2000% (despite the drop in the crime
rate).
B. REALITY: The crime rate has declined since the mid-1970's.
C. How do we measure crime?
1. Victim Surveys -
National Institute of Justice
Every 6 months
Random sample of 83,000 Americans
Have you been a victim of crime in the past 6 months?
Finding: Crime is decreasing in all categories.
Mid 1970's: 1 in three Americans reported experiencing a
property or violent crime.
Mid 1990's: 1 in four
Exception: 2 to 3 in four inner-city residents have been
victims of crime.
2. Uniform Crime Reports - crime as reported by police
departments.
FBI - Department of Justice
Overall crime levels have increased by 75% since the mid 1970's.
And violent crimes have more than doubled.
Even this source shows modest decline between 1993 and 1997.
Central Question: Why have the # of crimes reported by police
departments increased while the actual number (as reported by
victim surveys) has not?
a. Police departments have a stake in reporting increased crime
because in increases their budget.
b. The number of police have doubled - while actual crime has
declined.
c. The number of reported crimes and arrests of drug users
(victimless crimes) has increased while these people are unlikely
to see themselves as victims.
II. MYTH #2: MOST CRIMES ARE VIOLENT AND COMMITTED BY A STRANGER.
A. Reality: Most crimes are non-violent and most crimes are committed by
people we know.
B. Types of Crime
1. Victimless Crimes
Acts prohibited by law in which those who are affected are
willing and voluntary particpants.
EX. Buying drugs, gambling, prostitution
30%of ALL ARRESTS are for drug offenses, 70% of those are for
possession.
2. Interpersonal Violence
Violent Crimes such as murder , assault or rape
US has the highest rate in the industrialized world.
Most interpersonal crimes are commited by acquaintances NOT strangers
Low income women are twice as likely to suffer violent crime and
three times as likely to be raped than high income women..
3. Property Crimes
Robbery, burglary and larceny.
Larceny is the most common type of crime.
4. Hate Crimes
Illegal acts perpetrated because of what the victims represents
to the perpetrator.
As international migration increases, immigrants compete for scarce jobs. Competition and hatred go hand in hand.
III. MYTH #3: LOW INCOME, INNER-CITY BLACK MALE GANG MEMBERS COMMIT MOST CRIMES.
A. Illegal acts are committed by nearly everyone in society (most people
speed,cheat on their taxes, lie on applications, drive while intoxicated,
or use drugs).
B. Who does break the law
1. Professional thieves
People who earn their livelihood by regularly committing crimes.
Exact # is unknown
2. Organized crime
Ex. Illegal driugs, money laundering, gambling and prostitution
Recruit members from impoverished groups in society
Major industry in the US (drugs are a $100 billion industry)
3. State Organized crime
Acts defined by law as criminal that are committed by state and
government officials in the puruit of their jobs as representatives
of the government.
The US government had rigged elections, allowed drug shipments on
governement planes, plotted assainations, and funded and trained
terrorists. However, no member of the government has been charged
with these crimes.
4. White collar crime
Crimes committedby people of high social status in connection with
their workplace.
a. Benefit the individual
Ex. Overbilling clients, embezzlement
b. Benefit the company
1. Deliberate crimes committed on the behalf of the
company
Ex. Prudential was found guilty of
fraudulently selling stocks to hundreds of
thousands of its customers - they paid $41 million
in fines and $330 million in claims.
2. Withholding information about product dangers
Ex. Asbestos
5. Individuals and gangs
Young men are more likely to commit violent crimes than any other age group.
IV. MYTH #4: PEOPLE WHO COMMIT CRIMES ARE PUNISHED
For every 1000 crimes reported (victimization surveys)
540 are reported to police
65 result in arrests
36 are convicted
17 sentenced to custody
3 are sentenced to prison for more than a year
IV. MYTH #5: IF 50% OF PEOPLE SENTENCED TO PRISON TODAY ARE MINORITIES,
THAN MINORITIES COMMIT 50% OF CRIMES
Reality: Minorities are more likely to be arrested & imprisoned
Why?
1. Poor inner-city residents are disproportionately nonwhite.
2. Police work focuses on poor neighborhoods - crowding causes
activities onto the streets.
3. Differential treatment occurs (intended and/or unintended) in
arrest & imprisonment rates.
More whites are arrested for crimes than nonwhites yet,
nonwhites serve more jail time (Mauer, 1994)
More white than black juveniles are arrested for violent
crimes yet, yet more Blacks are tried as adults for their
crimes (Harris, 1990)
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American Society of Criminology: U.S. Department of Justice: The Federal Bureau of Investigations: National Criminal Justice Association: National Institute on Drug Abuse: |
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