Reiman And Leighton's Pyrrhic Defeat Theory

Reiman and Leighton continue to expand on the Pyrrhic Defeat Theory and ways how the criminal justice system continues to succeed by failing to reduce crime. They speak of some reasons why the policies enforced by the criminal justice system, maintain crime rather than reduce it. The system makes use of excuses as to why it fails at the reduction of crimes. While continuing to serve the interests of the powerful and maintaining the view of the poor being the most dangerous to society.
They claim they are not tough enough on crimes. However, in the American system, punishments for crimes include the death penalty; while there are a large number of incarcerations and recreation drugs are criminalized. They continue to argue that the more

complex, populous, industrialized and urbanized a country is, correlates with the rate of crimes. Though statistics show that this statement is false. Lastly, they blame youth (males 14 to 25) for the increase rates of crime. They believe that since the difficulty of the transition between childhood and adulthood results in immaturity and irresponsibility. Leading them to committing violent crimes.
Many of the policies created by the system to reduce crimes fail through the creation of crime rather than its prevention. Prisons are largely used as solutions for the reduction of crime. However, this “solution” eventually begins to become a problem because it produces more criminals than it attempts to “cure”. In 70 % of cases, recidivism occurs leading criminals right back into the prisons. Lax gun laws in the United states contribute to greater production and easier access for the purchase of guns. Additionally, the War on Drugs or the criminalization of recreational drugs, fails to be effective since the prohibition of certain drugs leads to crime.

Even when the policies fail, the system succeeds in upholding the view of the poor being the criminals. Collectively, theorist’s Kai T. Erikson and Michel Foucault argue that the maintenance of crime is more beneficial than the elimination of crime. This is successfully done through instilling certain beliefs about what and who is criminal and forms of social discipline to prevent deviance.