Construction Of Crime

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Crime is not as straightforward depicted by the legal perspective. The aim of this essay is to focus on the conflicting definitions of crime and the understanding that the concept of crime is socially constructed. In order to look at this aim, firstly this essay will focus on the issues with the legal definition and how criminologists have failed because they think too narrowly and ignore cultural and historical factors to law. Secondly, this essay will assess the social construction and harm principles of crime, explaining theories created by Howard Becker and Karl Marx. Thirdly, this essay will briefly discuss how the media contributes to the crime concept by creating moral panics as discussed by Stan Cohen. To conclude this essay will pull …show more content…

The legal definition of crime is perceived to be the most precise stepping stone in obtaining an appropriate definition. Tappan (1960:10) stated that, “Crime is an international act in violation of the criminal law (statutory and case law), committed without defence or excuse, and penalized by the state as a felony or demeanour.” Although this has been seen as the most precise definition, some critics argue that it is too narrow (Capeheart and Milovanovic, 2007). Swaaningen (1999) argues that criminologist are lacking in their ability to effectively critique the crime concept and are more likely to accept the narrow legal definition of crime. Many critics argue that due to the fact that Tappan’s theory only links crimes that are ‘legally’ guilty, it limits social harms that are caused through white collar crimes or by the …show more content…

Social Harm is thought to be a harm caused by the nonfulfillment of an individual’s needs (Lasslett, 2010). Society has laws in place to help prevent criminal behaviours occurring and to protect society against this concept of crime. Although this is not always the case, basic human rights can be over looked due the inequalities that underlie all societies. The Western world has laws which make it a criminal offence to have children undergoing forced labour. Although one side of the world deem this as unacceptable in some parts of the world like Asia this is not the case, as children are seen as having to work to ensure survival or a better quality of life (Westmarland, 2009). This results in a social harm caused by long working hours and horrendous working conditions. These inequalities at a societal level will therefore make a big impact on the crime concept and lead to a person entering into a criminal lifestyle due to the social infringements they are forced to live through (Hillyard and Tombs,

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