Richard Quinney

Richard Quinney

By: Colton Langford-Gasmo and Arshdeep Grewal

Proposition #6

The social reality of crime is constructed by the formulation and application of criminal definitions, the development of behavioural patterns related to criminal definitions, and the construction of criminal conceptions - Basically a summation of proposition #2 to #5

Proposition #5

Conceptions of crime are constructed and diffused in the segments of society by various means of communication - The mass media play an important role in the diffusion of criminal conceptions throughout society

Proposition #4

Behavioural patterns are structured in segmentally organized society in relation to criminal definitions, and within this context persons engage in actions that have relative probabilities of being defined as criminal - It is not the quality of the behaviour that makes it criminal, but rather the action taken against the behaviour

Proposition #1

Proposition #3

Crime is a definition of human conduct that is created by authorized agents in a politically organized society. - Crime is not inherent with behaviour, but rather is the product of legal definitions

Criminal definitions are applied by the segments of society that have power to shape the enforcement and administration of criminal law - The interests of powerful segments are not only represented in the formulation of criminal law.

Quinney: Criminality as a Result of Conflict Groups

- The more powerful groups are able to secure and protest their own interests by influencing the formulation, enforcement, and administration of criminal law.

- Only some groups have an impact on society, simply because they are more powerful.

- An upper class society would have more power than a lower class society because they are more capable, therefore having a bigger influence on laws created.

Vold: Group Conflict Theory

Proposition #2

Two Classes

Criminal definitions describe behaviours that conflict with the interests of segments of society that have the power to shape public policy - The more powerful segments of society can incorporate their interests, values, and norms into the criminal law, so these powerful segments can regulate the formulation of criminal definitions

- Groups form together when there is a common interest among them

- There are opposing groups who have opposite/different interests.

- The majority group will have more power because they have more people support their ideas.

- There are two classes of group conflict:

- First one is minorities not getting what they want, so they do what they want to do and this may go as far as breaking laws.

Example would be gangs.

- Secondly, group conflict is two groups competing for power. This might cause one group to protest and if done properly will cause what Vold calls “a successful revolution”.