Question

A __________ theory that believes that crime is simply a war between the have and the have nots. does not focus on individual behavior but treatment by the criminal justice system

For example- white-collar offenders is more likely to receive lenient treatment than the street offender because white-collar crime is he realm of the wealthy and street crime is the realm of the lower to middle class

Answer 1

Conflict theory considers crime to result from the struggle between different social classes and suggests that the criminal justice system treats individuals from higher social classes more leniently, as seen in cases of white-collar crime like Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme, compared to street crime.

Step-by-step explanation:

The theory you are referring to is conflict theory, which posits that crime arises as a result of the conflict between the 'haves' and the 'have-nots' in society. This theory highlights how the criminal justice system may treat individuals differently based on their social class, with a tendency to mete out more lenient punishment to white-collar criminals, who often belong to the higher social classes, as opposed to harsher consequences for street criminals, typically from lower social echelons. For instance, white-collar crimes such as Embezzlement, Ponzi schemes, Securities fraud committed by individuals like Bernie Madoff, and their implications on social justice and crime perception, illustrate the disparity in treatment. Contrastingly, according to social disorganization theory, individuals in impoverished neighborhoods with weak social ties have a higher likelihood of engaging in criminal activities due to the absence of social control and societal disconnection.