This document summarizes key concepts from critical criminology such as how it views crime as stemming from social and economic inequalities in society rather than individual pathology. It discusses themes like the relationship between crime and power structures, as well as the role of gender and race. The document also introduces concepts from forms of critical criminology such as left realism, critical feminist theory, and peacemaking criminology. Finally, it discusses how critical theory relates to restorative justice approaches as an alternative to punitive policies.

1. Chapter 8 -
Social Conflict, Critical Criminology,
and Restorative Justice
Michelle Palaro
Criminology 81-220-1
Fall 2014

2. Social Conflict and Criminologists
• Social conflict
– The struggle for power in society
• Critical criminologists
– Criminologists who believe that the
cause of crime can be linked to
economic, social, and political disparity

3. Social Conflict, Critical
Criminology, and Restorative
Justice

4. Origins of Critical Criminology
• Karl Marx
• National Deviancy Conference
– How might social control cause deviancy
• War in Vietnam, prison struggles, civil
rights movement, feminist movement
• Relationship between law, power, and
crime

5. Contemporary Critical
Criminology
• Themes and Concepts
– Connection between social class, crime,
and social control
– Role of the government in creating a
criminogenic environment
– Relationship between personal/group
power and shaping of criminal law

6. Contemporary Critical Criminology
• Themes and Concepts
– Race and gender bias in the justice
system
– Relationship between capitalistic
economy and crime rates
–Misuse of political/social/media power to
control behavior of others and shape
public opinion

7. Contemporary Critical Criminology
• Themes and Concepts
– American political system
• Death penalty, three strikes laws, USA
Patriot Act
• Racism
• Sexism
• Demystifying domination

8. Defining Crime and Justice
• Crime is a political concept designed
to protect the power and position of
the upper classes at the expense of
the poor

9. Defining Crime and Justice
• Poor
– Street crime
• Middle Class
– White-Collar Crime
• Wealthy
– Racism
– Sexism
– Profiteering

10. Defining Crime and Justice
• Supranational Criminology
– Antisocial behaviors committed by state
officials in pursuit of their jobs as
government representatives
• War
• Political Corruption
• Illegal Domestic Surveillance
• Human Rights Violations
• State-Corporate Crime
• State Violence

11. Defining Crime and Justice
• Instrumental vs. Structural Theory
– Instrumental Theory
• Criminal law and the criminal justice system
are capitalist instruments for controlling the
lower class
– Structural Theory
• Criminal law and the criminal justice system
are means of defending and preserving the
capitalist system

12. The Cause of Crime
• Surplus Value
• Marginalization
• Globalization

13. The Cause of Crime
• State (Organized) Crime
– Criminal acts committed by government
officials
– Illegal domestic surveillance
– Human rights violations
– State-corporate crime
– State violence

14. The Cause of Crime
• Crime and social institutions
• Educational disparities
– “Drop-out factories”
• Class and racial disparities in
prosecution and sentencing
• Racial threat theory

15. Forms of Critical
Criminology
• Left Realism
• Left Realism and crime
– Crime is a function of relative
deprivation under capitalism and favors
pragmatic, community-based crime
prevention and control
– Crime Protection
• Preemptive Deterrence
• Left Realism and terrorism

16. Forms of Critical
Criminology
• Critical Feminist Theory
– Explains both victimization and criminality
among women in terms of gender inequality,
patriarchy, and the exploitation of women
under capitalism
– Patriarchy and Crime
• Double marginality
• Powerlessness
– Masculinity and crime
• Hegemonic masculinity
– Exploitation and Criminality

17. Forms of Critical
Criminology
• Critical Feminist Theory
– Power-Control Theory
• Paternalistic families
• Role exit behaviors
• Egalitarian families
– Evaluating Power-Control Theory

18. Forms of Critical
Criminology
• Peacemaking Criminology
– Purpose of criminology is to promote a
peaceful, just society
– Punitive crime control strategies are
counterproductive
– Favors humanistic conflict resolution to
prevent and control crime

19. Critique of Critical
Criminology
• Lack of Real Contribution to
Criminology
• Lack of Substance
• Neglect of Regulatory Efforts in the
Capitalist System
• Neglect of Efforts at Social Reform

20. Forms of Critical
Criminology

21. Critical Theory and Restorative
Justice
• The Concept of Restorative Justice
– Failure of Old Punishment Policies
– Restorative Justice Alternatives
• Reintegrative Shaming

22. Critical Theory and Public
Policy
• The Process of Restoration
– Restoration Programs
• Sentencing circle
– Family Group Conference
– Reconciliation

23. Critical Theory and Public
Policy
• Balanced and Restorative Justice
(BARJ)
– Accountability
– Competency development
– Community safety
• The Challenge of Restorative Justice