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Transcript

The Politics of Crime

in the United States

Presentation Overview

Main points of the paper

Overview

Quick summary of the reframing of crime in US

Group Discussion

Class questions

Let’s take 3 minutes for everyone to think and share what they thought the main points of the paper were?

Share with the class by putting your thoughts in chat!

Main Points

Main Points of the Paper

War on crime is a framing issue / Purpose

The two theory of crimes

Main Points

The history of the politics of crime

Think about the activity from the previous class

Reframing Crime

Why is there a disconnect between the public perception of the trajectory of crime rate and reality?

Actual Crime Rate

Both violent crime and property crime has been on a downward trajectory

  • Violent crimes include offenses like rape, assault, and robbery
  • Property crimes include offenses like burglary, theft, and motor vehicle theft

Public Perception vs Reality

"In a survey in late 2016, for instance, 57% of registered voters said crime in the U.S. had gotten worse since 2008, even though FBI and BJS data shows that violent and property crime rates declined by double-digit percentages during that span."

- Pew Research Center

  • Response to civil rights movement of the '60s
  • tough on crime policy is a product conservative effort to frame crime as the consequence of leniency
  • Part of greater effort to alter public perception on other related issues as well
  • delinquency, addiction, and poverty
  • GOALS:
  • 1) Realign electorate
  • 2) Social Control > Social Welfare

Reframing Crime

Two theories on crime

1

Conservatives prioritizes the state's social control over social welfare

General Conservative Theory: crime is a product of bad people and excessive permissiveness

2

Liberal Theory: social conditions (ie racial inequality, limited opportunities for youth...etc.) were the root cause of poverty, crime, and addiction

Liberals prioritizes the state's social welfare over social control

2 Theories of Crime

1 a

[individualistic theory] poverty and crime are freely chosen lifestyles for those unwilling to work

1 b

[cultural theory] culture of welfare causes a variety of social ills including poverty, crime, delinquency, and drug addiction

History of the Politics of Crime

X

Triumph of law and order

9

As presented in the paper

Escalation of War on Drugs

8

War on Crime to War on Drugs

7

The Reagan Years

6

Assault on Defendant's Rights

5

Nixon Federalist Dilemma

4

Republican South Strategy

3

Defection of Liberals

2

The Conservative attack on Great Society

1

The Origins of the Law and Order Discourse

History

Discussion Prompt

Discussion

1) Can you find a recent example of a politician or law enforcement official using "law and order" rhetoric?

2) How have the politics of crime personally affected your life?

3) Before reading this paper, which theory of crime did you agree with more (theory of permissiveness or theory of root cause)? Did your position change after reading? If so why?

4) What do you think is the best way to reframe the way we look at crime? Do you see major reforms happening in the near future?

5) How does this paper change your view on mass incarceration in the USA? On the current protests?

If we have time...

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