The Conflict PerspectiveThe Conflict Perspective

Class, Crime, and the Criminal Class, Crime, and the Criminal Justice SystemJustice System

Power and InequalityPower and Inequality

The The Capitalist ClassCapitalist Class, those who own the means , those who own the means of production, make all the rules.of production, make all the rules.

The The power elitepower elite control the criminal justice control the criminal justice system.system.

Members of the Members of the working classworking class and and marginal marginal working classworking class make up the largest percentage make up the largest percentage of the prison population in the United States.of the prison population in the United States.

Using the LawUsing the Law

The working class has the potential to The working class has the potential to rebel and overthrow the current social rebel and overthrow the current social order.order.

The The criminal justice systemcriminal justice system is designed is designed to arrest and punish members of the lower to arrest and punish members of the lower classes if those members step out of line.classes if those members step out of line.

The law does not focus on corporate The law does not focus on corporate crimes.crimes.

Corporate CrimeCorporate Crime

Did you know that Did you know that corporate crimecorporate crime inflicts far inflicts far more damage on society than all street crime more damage on society than all street crime combined? combined?

The FBI estimates, for example, that burglary The FBI estimates, for example, that burglary and robbery -- and robbery -- street crimesstreet crimes -- costs the nation -- costs the nation $3.8 billion a year.$3.8 billion a year.

The losses from a handful of major corporate The losses from a handful of major corporate frauds -- Tyco, Adelphia, Worldcom, Enron -- frauds -- Tyco, Adelphia, Worldcom, Enron -- surpasses the losses from all street robberies surpasses the losses from all street robberies and burglaries combined.and burglaries combined.

Corporate CrimeCorporate Crime

Health care fraud alone costs Americans Health care fraud alone costs Americans $100 billion to $400 billion a year $100 billion to $400 billion a year

The savings and loan fraud cost us The savings and loan fraud cost us anywhere from $300 billion to $500 billion.anywhere from $300 billion to $500 billion.

Corporate Crime Isn’t ViolentCorporate Crime Isn’t Violent

The FBI estimates that, 16,000 The FBI estimates that, 16,000 Americans are murdered every year.Americans are murdered every year.Compare this to the 56,000 Compare this to the 56,000 Americans who die every year on the Americans who die every year on the job or from occupational diseases job or from occupational diseases such as black lung and asbestosis such as black lung and asbestosis and the tens of thousands of other and the tens of thousands of other Americans who fall victim to the Americans who fall victim to the silent violence of pollution, silent violence of pollution, contaminated foods, hazardous contaminated foods, hazardous consumer products, and hospital consumer products, and hospital malpractice.malpractice.

Who’s In Charge?Who’s In Charge?

Corporate criminals are the only criminal class in Corporate criminals are the only criminal class in the United States that have the power to define the United States that have the power to define the laws under which they live.the laws under which they live.The The corporate criminal lobbycorporate criminal lobby is is large and in large and in charge. charge. ““They have marinated Washington -- from the They have marinated Washington -- from the White House to the Congress -- with their White House to the Congress -- with their monetary contributions. And out the other end monetary contributions. And out the other end come the laws they can live with. They still come the laws they can live with. They still violate their own rules with impunity. But they violate their own rules with impunity. But they make sure the laws are kept within reasonable make sure the laws are kept within reasonable bounds.” – bounds.” – Corporate Crime: Who Pays?Corporate Crime: Who Pays?

He’s the Culprit!He’s the Culprit!

Corporate Crime Under ProsecutedCorporate Crime Under Prosecuted

For every company convicted of polluting For every company convicted of polluting the nation’s waterways, there are many the nation’s waterways, there are many others who are not prosecuted.others who are not prosecuted.For every corporation convicted of bribery For every corporation convicted of bribery or of giving money directly to a public or of giving money directly to a public official in violation of federal law, there are official in violation of federal law, there are thousands who give money legally through thousands who give money legally through political action committees to candidates political action committees to candidates and political parties. and political parties.

Health Care ReformHealth Care Reform

Making Them PayMaking Them Pay

Most corporate crimes do not Most corporate crimes do not result in a criminal trial.result in a criminal trial.

Civil or Class Action LawsuitsCivil or Class Action Lawsuits

Ordered to appear before a federal Ordered to appear before a federal organization to testify. Like the organization to testify. Like the Federal Trade Commission.Federal Trade Commission.

May be forced to pay a fineMay be forced to pay a fine

Street CrimesStreet Crimes

Larceny – TheftLarceny – Theft

BurglaryBurglary

DrugsDrugs

GangsGangs

Where Do We Put Them?Where Do We Put Them?

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Where Do We Put Them?Where Do We Put Them?

Latest StatisticsLatest Statistics

As of December 31, 2009, more than 1.6 million As of December 31, 2009, more than 1.6 million prisoners were under the jurisdiction or legal authority of prisoners were under the jurisdiction or legal authority of state and federal correctional officials. (state and federal correctional officials. (Prisoners at Yearend 2009: Advance Courts Prisoners at Yearend 2009: Advance Courts ) ) At midyear 2009, about 1 in every 198 U.S. residents At midyear 2009, about 1 in every 198 U.S. residents was imprisoned with a sentence of more than 1 year, a was imprisoned with a sentence of more than 1 year, a rate of 504 prisoners per 100,000 U.S. residents. (rate of 504 prisoners per 100,000 U.S. residents. (Prison inmates at Midyear 2009 - Statistical TablesPrison inmates at Midyear 2009 - Statistical Tables) ) In 2008, over 7.3 million people were on probation, in jail In 2008, over 7.3 million people were on probation, in jail or prison, or on parole at yearend  — 3.2% of all U.S. or prison, or on parole at yearend  — 3.2% of all U.S. adult residents or 1 in every 31 adults. adult residents or 1 in every 31 adults.

State and federal prison facilities State and federal prison facilities

From June 30, 2000, to December 30, From June 30, 2000, to December 30, 2005, the number of state and federal 2005, the number of state and federal correctional facilities increased by 9%, correctional facilities increased by 9%, from 1,668 to 1,821. The number of from 1,668 to 1,821. The number of inmates held in these facilities increased inmates held in these facilities increased by 10%, while the number of correctional by 10%, while the number of correctional employees rose 3% (employees rose 3% (Census of State and Federal Correctional Census of State and Federal Correctional Facilities, 2005Facilities, 2005) )

Globally?Globally?

IllinoisIllinois

At What Cost?At What Cost?

PolicePolice

JudgesJudges

AttorneysAttorneys

Parole Officers Parole Officers

FacilitiesFacilities

At What Cost?At What Cost?

In 2008, federal, state, and local governments spent about $75 billion on corrections.

Is Our System Effective?Is Our System Effective?

RecidivismRecidivism Percentage of prisoners who are rearrestedPercentage of prisoners who are rearrested In Illinois the recidivism rate is about 54%In Illinois the recidivism rate is about 54%

The Revolving DoorThe Revolving Door Most repeat offenders are drug relatedMost repeat offenders are drug related

What’s Next?What’s Next?

How would you change our reaction to How would you change our reaction to deviance?deviance?

In what ways might we improve our In what ways might we improve our society and the criminal justice system?society and the criminal justice system?

Or do you believe that our system is Or do you believe that our system is effective in dealing with deviance? effective in dealing with deviance? Explain.Explain.

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