Criminology

Let’s get real critical! As in critical criminology and the notion that social class really matters. But let’s think about social class not just in the calm materialistic way that Merton so mildly spoke. How about if we lean towards the radical as Bonger and Currie would suggest? Or we might refer to Messner and Rosenfeld’s point about capitalism and living in a material world. There is a lot to choose from in our current and past readings, as we move beyond our juvenile lifer subjects into the realm of white-collar crime. For instance, how can we explain Lori Louglin who just entered a federal penitentiary? Or how about all those affluent kids who cheat, as further related in Singer’s chapter on white-collar delinquency. We could even revisit those affluent New Hampshire youth mentioned in America’s Safest City, & as further related in the linked NPR audio listed below. I’ll leave it to you to decide how you wish to critically relate how class matters, if at all. So here’s the question: Is it about power and nothing more, as critical criminologists would relate in this week’s readings? Another way to ask: Is there anything unique in this week’s readings to explain our New Hampshire youth, & parents who cheat with the best of intentions? Or do you prefer other theories that we’ve reviewed so far, such as learning from the wrong crowd, low self-control, or just a bad state of anomie that could account for this sort of white-collar cheating? As before please clearly reference your concept of choice, and as before don’t’ hesitate to be critical!