America Creates Criminal Law Out Of Social Conflict

I. America creates criminal law out of social conflict. It is believed by many that America produces criminal regulation out of social conflict, meaning that societies are ruled by the wealthy and dominant and that the division between the dominant and inferior is unequal. The dominant class passes laws intended to assist themselves. These same laws are disadvantageous to the inferior class, also known as the working or lower class class. Both the dominant and inferior class commits acts of deviance, but the system that was created by the dominant for the dominant, explains deviance differently for each class. As a result of the conflict, the criminal judicial system judges and penalizes each group differently. The legal system has†¦show more content†¦One example of this is white-collar crimes versus street crimes. The rich engage in white-collar crimes, whereas the poor engage in more armed robbery type of crimes. Both are equally harmful to society. White-collar crimes are not as easily identified as street crimes. Also, white-collar crime perpetrators can use their power and influence to avoid prosecution. Street crimes, which are often committed by lower class, do not have power to influence and avoid prosecution. In addition, the privileged can often afford expensive lawyers and are sometimes on a first-name basis with the individuals in charge of making and enforcing laws, which gives them an advantage. Members of the lower class generally do not have these advantages. Conflict theory also states that the individuals we generally label as irregular are also quite powerless. For example, if we think about the powerless that have no means of financial stability often engage in criminal activity to survive. This activity according to law, which is made by the upper privileged, is considered wrong and requires punishment. Such activity can include prostitution. Prostitution is illegal and the criminal is sentenced to jail, which minimizes their opportunity to progress in society. They now have several sentenced accounts, which makes it harder fro them to fin a good job in the future,