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(1427) IAT-I (Criminology, Penology & Criminal Justice Administration)
(1427) IAT-I (Criminology, Penology & Criminal Justice Administration)
(1427) IAT-I (Criminology, Penology & Criminal Justice Administration)
JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION
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Durkheim’s theory of anomie was later reformulated by Robert K. Merton. Unlike Durkheim,
Merton did not just confine himself to stating that, “human beings had unlimited desires and
wants”, but went onto add that “criminality results from offender’s inability to attain his goals
by socially acceptable means. It focuses on the conflict between culturally prescribed goals,
and the social structure which bars many from access to legitimate means for achievement of
these goals. Those deprived must reject either the achievement of the goals or the norms
prescribing legitimate means. Some reject the latter and resort to deviant behaviour to achieve
the goals. Some of the others reject both the goals and means, and deviate by rebelling
against or retreating from the culture. The psychological rejection of norms by individuals
was originally called 'anomie' by Merton, and then re- named 'anomia'.
Thus, it can be discerned that if inequality in society is overcome, anomie can be curbed to a
large extend.
The theory of Anomie has also been faced with criticisms. Firstly, it can be easily discerned
from Robert Merton’s propositions that he explains criminality only within the lower
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economic groups, since the upper class most often have the means to achieve their desires.
Further, he does not provide an explanation as to why people react differently when under
stress.
The Functionalist analysis of crime starts with society as a whole. It seeks to explain crime by
looking at the nature of society, rather than at individuals. There are two main thinkers
usually associated with the Functionalist Perspective on Crime:
1. Emile Durkheim
2. Robert Merton
CRIME IS INEVITABLE
Durkheim argued that crime is an inevitable and normal aspect of social life. He pointed out
that crime is inevitable in all societies, and that the crime rate was in fact higher in more
advanced, industrial societies.
Durkheim argues that all social change begins with some form of deviance. In order for
changes to occur, yesterday’s deviance becomes today’s norm.
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Durkheim went a step further and argued that a certain amount of crime was functional for
society. Three positive functions of crime include:
Durkheim argued that crime only became dysfunctional when there was too much or too little
of it – too much and social order would break down, too little and there would not be
sufficient capacity for positive social change.
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EVALUATIONS OF DURKHEIM’S FUNCTIONALIST VIEW OF CRIME
Durkheim talks about crime in very general terms. He theorizes that ‘crime’ is necessary and
even functional but fails to distinguish between different types of crime. It could be that some
crimes may be so harmful that they will always be dysfunctional rather than functional.
Secondly, Durkheim is suggesting that the criminal justice system benefits everyone in
society by punishing criminals and reinforcing the acceptable boundaries of behaviour.
However, Marxist and Feminist analysis of crime demonstrates that not all criminals are
punished equally and thus crime and punishment benefit the powerful for than the powerless
Interactionists would suggest that whether or not a crime is functional cannot be determined
objectively; surely it depends on an individual’s relationship to the crime.
Functionalists assume that society has universal norms and values that are reinforced by
certain crimes being punished in public. Postmodernists argue society is so diverse, there is
no such thing as ‘normal.