Marxist and Neo-Marxist Theories of Crime

Key Words

capitalism - economic system in which the means of production are privately owned and workers exploited criminogenic capitalism - capitalism causes crime by exploiting and alienating the working class selective enforcement - powerless groups are criminalised whilst crimes of the powerful are overlooked ideological functions - the law disguises the intention of benefiting the powerful, and appears to benefit the working class critical criminology - views of Neo-Marxists Taylor, Walton and Young; rejection of determinism and opting for a voluntaristic view anti-determinism -people are free agents with the ability to make their own decisions; they don't just commit crimes because of the capitalist system