The Marxism theory brings up the idea of the composition of social structure and deviance about criminology in the society. It gives the ideological functions of the law in any society and links it with capitalism. Sociologists can use this theory to connect how the law protects the interests of the ruling class about criminal justice. The ruling class and the working classes in the society commit a crime and get ahead without any judgement or repercussions (Donnermeyer, & DeKeseredy, 2013). The prosecutions which take place against the interests of the working-class view crime as a consequence of illegal activities which suppress the criminal activities to take place.
The crimes which may be held against the ruling and working class tend to divert away from capitalism. The realists claim that selective crimes are enforced against the disturbed working class. It also disguises the real nature of crimes which are committed against such people in the society. Such crimes are perpetrated against the class individuals and not the state. The small power of the elite is helped in minimizing the crime rate in the society (Downes, Rock & McLaughlin, 2016). When most people get engaged in work or become the working-class group in the society, then it is notable that the deviance in the society reduces and the crime rate in the society declines.
The Marxist theory explains the laws against deviance in the society are meant mainly to protect the interests of the working class and the ruling class, and when everybody gets in those classes, then the rate of crime is deemed to reduce. To reduce the crime rate in the society, I would focus on eliminating poverty since it’s the major cause of crime in the society (Canter & Youngs, 2016). This would be achieved by ensuring that people are engaged in some work in one way or the other in the society and provision of social amenities by the government. Employment will help to eradicate the poverty levels and will also raise the standards of living of people in the society. Thus, the criminal law against deviance will take care after of the interests of all individuals in the society.
In the modern days, people have attached less value to material things like cars and buildings and the social status in the society. This has been propelled by the attainment of similar standards like education, cultural background and the social attachments (Taylor, Walton & Young, 2013). The cohesion between the young people in the society focuses more on maintaining the social attachment and does not focus on material things, and hence they tend to perform activities which are geared towards social cohesion.
To ensure they maintain their relationships, which is most valuable, they demean the material things since their peers can afford the same without a struggle. They interact with people with the same social positions as them and hence disregard the social power they all have. An example is in the US; people are encouraged to maintain their social relationships, whether poor or wealthy (Taylor, Walton & Young, 2013). The people get money through legal channels and work towards attaining their goals. On reaching the social satisfaction stage, they look for social goals and works towards maintaining their social standards and relationships. This has considerably helped to reduce the crime rate, since the socialism in that society has joint goals rather than individual goals.
- Canter, D., & Youngs, D. (2016). Crime and society.
- Donnermeyer, J. F., & DeKeseredy, W. (2013). Rural criminology (Vol. 3). Routledge.
- Downes, D., Rock, P., & McLaughlin, E. (2016). Understanding deviance: a guide to the sociology of crime and rule-breaking. Oxford University Press.
- Taylor, I., Walton, P., & Young, J. (2013). The new criminology: For a social theory of deviance. Routledge.