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Read Item A below and answer the question that follows: Item A The different agencies of the criminal justice system, such as the police and the courts, are responsible for processing individuals who are suspected of committing crimes - AQA - A-Level Sociology - Question 3 - 2018 - Paper 3
Question 3
Read Item A below and answer the question that follows: Item A The different agencies of the criminal justice system, such as the police and the courts, are respon... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Read Item A below and answer the question that follows: Item A The different agencies of the criminal justice system, such as the police and the courts, are responsible for processing individuals who are suspected of committing crimes - AQA - A-Level Sociology - Question 3 - 2018 - Paper 3
Step 1
Analyse two reasons for social class differences in official crime statistics: Reason 1
Answer
One reason for social class differences in official crime statistics relates to the policing practices of law enforcement agencies. The police often concentrate their resources on areas with higher concentrations of working-class individuals, operating under the assumption that these communities have higher crime rates. This can result in increased surveillance and a greater likelihood of arrest for individuals in these areas, thus skewing the statistics. Furthermore, the stereotype of the working class can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy, where those perceived to be 'delinquent' are more frequently targeted by police.
Step 2
Analyse two reasons for social class differences in official crime statistics: Reason 2
Answer
Another reason is the opportunity structure available for different social classes. Individuals in lower socioeconomic groups may have less access to legitimate means of making a living, which can lead to higher levels of property crime as a means of survival. In contrast, middle-class individuals often engage in white-collar crimes, which are less likely to be caught or recorded in official crime statistics. Consequently, the opportunities to commit crimes, coupled with societal perceptions, lead to a disparity in how crime is reported and categorized across classes.