Using the sociological theories propounded in the textbook and the unit lesson, devise a theory of your own that can explain the largest crime issues you see in your community. Explain how you would test your theory using the research methods you read about. What would you measure, and how?
REPLY TO MY CLASSMATE’S RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTION AND EXPLAIN WHY YOU AGREE? (A MINIMUM OF 125 WORDS or MORE EACH QUESTION)
CLASSMATE’S POST
Conflict theory seems most prevalent in my community, although we do have a relative low and even crime rate amongst all of the groups in our community; justices are not dispensed equally. Conflict theory is defined as, weak penalties and non-enforcement of white-collar crimes (Hagan, 2017). My community is made up of majority 92 percent affluent and upper to high income persons, who all look the same, with a minority group who income and profession is comparable; however, it is well known that the authority tend to target or police the minority group even though they drive similar vehicles and live in housing/neighborhoods on the same level.
I contend this can also be seen as labeling, but in our community it is notable that one group tends to receive no charges or lesser penalties/charges than the other group for the same crime. This type of community policing of targeting those who do not look like you even though you are charged with protecting everybody in your community on an equal basis — always leads to conflict.
References
Hagan, F. E. (2017). Introduction to criminology: Theories, methods, and criminal behavior (9th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
