In the introduction of their book The Many Colors of Crime: Inequalities of Race, Ethnicity, and Crime in America, Peterson, Krivo, and Hagan (2006) state:
"Race and ethnicity are infrequently given serious consideration as structural influences creating criminogenic [Producing or tending to produce crime or criminality. According to NYU law professor James B. Jacobs, for example, "Alcohol is the most criminogenic substance in America."] conditions; the responses of actors, groups, and institutions; and the consequences that flow from these . . . these dimensions of stratification condition the very laws that make certain behaviors criminal, the perception of crime and those who are criminalized, the distribution of criminogenic conditions and processes, the determination of who becomes a victim of crime under which circumstances, the responses to laws and crime that make some more likely to be defined as criminal [i.e., labeling theory], and the way individuals and communities are positioned and empowered to respond to crime" (p. 1).
Do you agree with Peterson et al. (2006) that ethnicity and race are often overlooked with regard to the various above-mentioned factors related to crime and victimization? If so, how so? If not, why not? What if stratification dimensions of age and gender were also taken into consideration? How are such dimensions of stratification (race/ethnicity, gender, age) understood in relation to crime and deviance? Please explain and support your responses.
Your response should be posted below via the "Add Comment" link below. Please also make sure to include your name and email address as prompted (Note: your email address will not be published online). Each student is expected to "reply" to at least two comments posted by his/her peers by the following Sunday (July 1, 2012).
"Race and ethnicity are infrequently given serious consideration as structural influences creating criminogenic [Producing or tending to produce crime or criminality. According to NYU law professor James B. Jacobs, for example, "Alcohol is the most criminogenic substance in America."] conditions; the responses of actors, groups, and institutions; and the consequences that flow from these . . . these dimensions of stratification condition the very laws that make certain behaviors criminal, the perception of crime and those who are criminalized, the distribution of criminogenic conditions and processes, the determination of who becomes a victim of crime under which circumstances, the responses to laws and crime that make some more likely to be defined as criminal [i.e., labeling theory], and the way individuals and communities are positioned and empowered to respond to crime" (p. 1).
Do you agree with Peterson et al. (2006) that ethnicity and race are often overlooked with regard to the various above-mentioned factors related to crime and victimization? If so, how so? If not, why not? What if stratification dimensions of age and gender were also taken into consideration? How are such dimensions of stratification (race/ethnicity, gender, age) understood in relation to crime and deviance? Please explain and support your responses.
Your response should be posted below via the "Add Comment" link below. Please also make sure to include your name and email address as prompted (Note: your email address will not be published online). Each student is expected to "reply" to at least two comments posted by his/her peers by the following Sunday (July 1, 2012).
This blog assignment is due: Monday, June 25, 2012, 5:30 p.m., EST
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