Using Class and Race to Understand Dynamics of Crime - Research Paper Example

Section/# Labeling: Using and Race to Understand Dynamics of Crime Introduction: The situation in describing inequality, class, poverty, race, and many other social constructs is the fact that these particular constructs do not lend themselves readily to a categorical identification. The obvious and underlying reason for this has to do with the fact that categorical interpretations of groups is oftentimes flawed; mainly due to the fact that groups are inherently made up of a litany of different types of individuals. These individuals necessarily have their own worldview, approach, background, class, and other factors that help define and constrain them in a way that broad and general identifications and definitions cannot. These difficulties notwithstanding, this particular analysis will seek to engage the reader with a broader understanding for how labeling of individuals contributes to the pervasive levels of crime that are oftentimes found within certain demographics. As with so many of the questions concerning causality, the analysis will seek to understand how labeling and societal definitions of expectation impact upon the way in which individuals within groups tend to understand the environment within the world around them. Accordingly, rather than tackling the impact of societal “labels” throughout the criminal justice system, the essay will instead focus upon the way in which racial/ethnic labels tend to reinforce or create unnatural constraints that define the behavior and expectations of individuals within the system. With regard to the segregation into distinct neighborhoods, this a sociological construct that has existed since the dawn of time. Taking the United States as an example, it can be seen that since the United States was ultimately a nation that was founded upon immigration, the power of this influx of “new” people into the United States created a need for a high level of housing space for them to live (Peterson & Krivo, 2012). Naturally, as Italians, Irish, Polish, and a litany of others began to arrive in a foreign land, they found themselves at a distinct disadvantage; oftentimes not speaking the language and having few if any opportunities. As a function of this, and the level of rejection that they received by clannish groups of more established Americans, ghettos began to pop up all over the nation. Looking further back in history, the freedom from slavery created a situation in which tens of thousands of African Americans moved North in search of a better life and more equality (Plumm & Terrence, 2013). Sadly, this search oftentimes led to a dead end; as these newly freed slaves could not afford the type of lifestyle they hoped for, could not find gainful employment that could satisfy their needs, and were largely shunned by the residents of the communities they sought to integrate with. Moreover, in tandem with the sense of rejection that such outsiders invariably felt, the power and impact of labels, stereotypes, and expectations soon came to be felt; both with regard to the way that others understood these individuals and the means by which they understood themselves. Literature Review: XYZ point to the fact that understanding racially distinct neighborhoods and how they came to be leads the reader to come to a false conclusion; one that somehow equates all racially segregated and/or low income neighborhoods in the same way. Within such an understanding, the reader can come to a more complete degree of understanding concerning how the power of “labeling” transforms the understanding of individuals and seeks to create a stereotypical least common denominator that can be used to judge all people from a given race, demographic, or region. Instead, a great differential continues to exist with regards to racially distinct neighborhoods and the overall level of wealth and/or opportunity that is represented (Peterson & Krivo, 2012). Sadly, these labels prevail and individuals throughout society continue to use them in seeking to understand whether one particular area is “safe” or whether it is “dangerous”; oftentimes based largely upon the types of individuals that live in and around it. Such a blanket judgment has a powerful impact with respect to the way in which labels are reinforced and crime rates come to be represented. XYZ allude to the fact that rather than delving into a “chicken or egg” analysis, it goes without saying that individual stakeholders that grow up in a society that are fearful of them or attribute tacit levels of racism and/or classism to the belief that they are involved in some type of illegal activity will discourage these stakeholders from proving themselves to be worthy of society’s respect. Without a belief that society is unprejudiced and the criminal justice system views all individuals equally, the inherent possibility for these stakeholders to engage in crime and “fulfill” the role and label that society has created for them is exponentially increased. For instance, a racially distinct neighborhood within a developed and prosperous region is necessarily incomparable to a racially distinct neighborhood within a poor and relatively un-developed state. In such a way, the analyst can see that the baseline differential between communities that are racially distinct is a dangerous point of analysis; and one that can invariably lead the researcher to come to erroneous and otherwise incomplete conclusions. With respect to the broader issue, XYZ denote that further inference into labeling and understanding of racial definitions is the most effective means of comparing ethnically and socially comparable groups. This can also be effected by engaging an understanding of how dissimilar, regions races, classes, and inequalities are represented within regard to how they impact the creation of “labels” (Peterson & Krivo, 2012). For instance, the researcher noted that an individual from an upper middle class, or upper-class family, is invariably more likely to find success in the field that they pursue. This is due to primary factors. First of these is with regards to the overall level of monetary resources that this individual is able to leverage; both from their family and from their own personal efforts. The secondary factor has to do with the fact that an individual from a mid-upper-class socioeconomic or class status is an individual that necessarily has connections which they can leverage as a means of getting ahead. As a function of the class connection, an individual that seeks even an entry-level position in a firm that could ultimately provide them with the continuation of their middle upper-middle-class existence is oftentimes to financial independence and success that society has so oftentimes steamed (Peterson & Krivo, 2012). Sadly, by the same measurement, and unbelievably gifted student, or young person, that has passed all of the requirements, achieved recognition in secondary and postsecondary education, if indeed they are able to engage with this at all, stands a greatly diminished chance of landing an entry-level job at an established and well respected firm. Oftentimes, the impact of class is not considered to the extent that it should be. An ancillary question that XYZ promote has to do with the question of how surrounding neighborhoods further affect levels of violent crimes and the way in which this information can be utilized as a means of decreasing violent crime within the United States (Janes, 2011). Ultimately, the text presents the reader with the understanding that that years of social disengagement that takes place in racially distinct and economically disadvantaged neighborhoods allows a level of self worth to be diminished. Moreover, inherent jealousy and frustration also factors greatly into the way in which individuals from these communities interact with their counterparts in other less economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. This ultimately leads to a situation in which the value of life and the day to day struggles that are engaged within these neighborhoods significantly differ from the day to day life experiences and value of life that are engaged in others. As a means of ameliorating this differential and promoting less violence, it is absolutely integral to seek to build the sense of identity and self worth that exist within these disadvantaged neighborhoods across the country (Peterson & Krivo, 2012). Naturally, this is easier said than done; however, the education system as well as specific government programs can effect a dramatic change in the way that identity, self worth, and understanding is represented. XYZ note that due to the level to which poverty robs the individual and society of the level of humanity that has herein been described, it can readily be noted that poverty represents something of an umbrella term for which many of the societal issues that the current system faces must seek to integrate with. Rather than choosing to grapple with each of these externalities in a separate manner, the far better approach would be to realize that poverty represents the most fundamental harm and seek a better means of reducing its existence and occurrence (Drayton, 2013). As can easily be inferred from the information that has thus far been presented, the issue at hand is not only of a purely sociological nature. Instead, ethical standards, psychological issues, and a host of other factors all tied deeply in to the issue of inequality, poverty, and homelessness that are represented throughout the United States, and throughout the rest of the world for that matter. Although it is not expected that a few policy changes can drastically impact upon the reality that has thus far been defined, a differentiated approach to the manner through which private and public entities engage with the issue of inequality and understand it as a root problem that impacts upon almost each and every aspect of society will most certainly have a more positive impact as compared to the approaches that have thus far been utiliized in seeking to address this issue (Peterson & Krivo, 2012). Hypothesis: From the literature that has thus far been read, it is the hypothesis of this particular author that the overall use and implementation of labeling within the field of criminal justice is pervasive. Yet, even though changes to the demographics and/or diversity of society and the criminal justice field have taken place over the past several decades, the differential in labeling that exists within different geographies within the United States determines the efficiency and quality of services that the system provides. Within such an understanding, the hypothesis that this particular research will engage is one that infers a strong positive relationship between the efficacy of the department in question and the level of complaints with regard to racial stereotyping and/or labeling. Research Methodology: The research methodology will be concentric upon measuring the overall number of stakeholder complaints exhibited within three police departments within specific geographic locales. By using these three distinct cities, the methodology can focus on providing a level of correlation from the information that will allow the stakeholder to infer regarding the efficacy of the department itself; as compared to others. Definition of variables Independent Variable: The independent variable in this case is with respect to the overall number of police complaints, per department, concerning issues of racial stereotyping, labeling, or profiling. Dependent Variable: The dependent variable in these three cases will be with respect to the way in which the efficiency of the department is impacted by the overall number of complaints that it has received within the aforementioned genres. Overall efficiency will be understood by representing the number of crimes solved, level of engagement, and faith that the department is able to instill within the population it serves. Definition of Population: Because of this, labels and the determination of them are one of the more nebulous of the concepts which has been discussed above. Ultimately, racial labels have been used as means of categorizing humans by cultural, genetic, geographic, anatomical, linguistic, social, religious, or historical means. As a function of this, the very definition of race is something that sociologists and anthropologists continue to argue about. Due to the many determinants of race that exist, is oftentimes been decided that since no working and firm definition of what defines one and what defines another can readily be agreed upon, ethnicity, or the means by which an individual is defined as a result of culture and geographic origin, is a far better identifier of people. Broadly speaking, race, and racial definitions is something that the stakeholder within the criminal justice system must integrate with; whether or not they are of the opinion that such a definition is ultimately helpful. Due to the fact that the stakeholder within the criminal justice system is responsible not only for integrating directly with the society but also with explicating and defining the means by which past history has taken place and continues impact upon the stakeholders within the classroom, race is not a topic that can merely be brushed aside and deemed as a prior an unsuccessful method of grouping individuals. The fact of the matter is that even as academia and society as a whole differs upon an approach and appreciation for such a concept, it remains incumbent upon the stakeholder within the criminal justice system, and educational process by extension, to continue to place a level and degree of focus upon the importance that race necessarily engenders. Regardless of the potentially flawed an incomplete understanding and appreciation for how race impacts upon the individual and society that the students might necessarily have, it is incumbent upon the stakeholder within the criminal justice system to seek to distance himself/herself from any of these faulty pre-conceived and ultimately unscientific interpretations. However, this must be done delicately in with a degree of understanding that encourages discourse while the same time maintaining civility and promoting individual and group rights within the student body. Within such a dynamic, it is possible for the stakeholder within the criminal justice system to seek to broach the topic with as little intrusion and divergence into unhelpful interpretations and norms as possible. Similarly, ethnicity, and its interpretation within modern scholarship, is something of the golden standard with respect to seeking to differentiate one individual/group from another. However, it should not be understood that such an approach is invariably on flawed. Rather than relying upon racial distinction as a means of defining one group from another, and ethnic approach necessarily places the primary emphasis upon geographic region of origin and/or cultural influences that impact upon the individual. In much the same way, the stakeholder within the criminal justice system might just as well as a a second-generation German immigrants who resided in Mexico for most of his formative years as Mexican. Further, from the stakeholder within the criminal justice system’s standpoint, ethnicity, and the interpretation thereof, has become one of the primal means by which individuals within the current world seek to differentiate themselves from their peers (Walsh & Yun, 2011). Conclusion: From the information that is thus far been engaged, it can definitively be noted that a distinct and clear correlation exists between class and inequality. Although it is true that this is not the only contingent factor that impacts upon inequality within society, it can and has been successfully argued that it is perhaps one of the most profound. Moreover, is also been realized that even though inequality is something of a daunting metric, it can in fact be measured within any particular group, society, nation, region, or class. By categorizing averages, measuring standard deviations, and analyzing the differentials between rich and poor, inequality can effectively be understood in mathematical terms. However, with that being said, it must also be warned that a data intensive analysis of inequality oftentimes lends the researcher to misunderstand the reality is that it portends. Accordingly, from the analysis that has thus far been engaged, it is the distinctive understanding of this author that inequality is a nuanced, class driven, specific, and measurable reality that exists within the current world. Yet, even such an understanding is not even touch upon the manner through which stakeholders within society can seek to impact upon inequality. Although this particular analysis has not provided a prescriptive change for impacting upon inequality, a discussion and review of the determinant metrics that define it has most certainly prompted this author to engage with an understanding of the fact that equal access to education, both primary, secondary, graduate, and postgraduate must be affected in order for inequality be diminished throughout society. Moreover, even a cursory analysis of those nations around the world that demonstrate the highest level of equality necessarily indicates that a socialist government with free, or extraordinarily subsidized education, offer the best opportunities for individuals from any socioeconomic strata, class, or poverty level to achieve similar goals; provided they apply themselves effectively to achieve these goals. Bibliography Bontrager Ryon, S. (2013). Labels and Their Impact on Social Understanding of Crime.Journal Of Criminal Justice, 41(6), 426-437. doi:10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2013.07.006 DRAYTON, J. (2013). Protest and resistance Label Creation. Womens Studies Journal, 27(1), 4-12. Janes, L. (2011). Do Lifelong Labels Really Help?. Howard Journal Of Criminal Justice,50(2), 137-152. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2311.2010.00648.x Peterson, R. & Krivo, L. (2012). Divergent social worlds : neighborhood crime and the racial-spatial divide. New York: Russell Sage Foundation. Plumm, K. M., & Terrance, C. A. (2013). Gender-bias hate crimes: what constitutes a hate crime from a potential jurors perspective?. Journal Of Applied Social Psychology, 43(7), 1468-1479. doi:10.1111/jasp.12105 Read More