Dr. Rodriguez
Introduction to Sociology
I. Deviance (def.): breaking social norms; going against established rules of behavior; contradicting cultural values
- Two perspective of deviance: absolutist versus relative
- Deviance is relative
- what was once considered deviant may be no longer considered deviant
- the definition of deviant behavior may vary by group or culture ("sting" operations are illegal in the Mexican legal system)
- persons involved in behavior considered deviant may not identify themselves as deviant (e.g., undocumented immigrants)
- sometimes government institutions and officials become deviant themselves! (illegal wiretappings, police assaulting residents, racial profiling--DWB, sterilization of poor women)
- Labeling theory--the creation of deviance by defining acts and groups as deviant (e.g., at one time dancing rock-n-roll was considered deviant)
- primary deviance--the act of breaking a norm
- secondary deviance--labeling behavior may cause persons to turn to more deviant behavior
II. Crime Statistics (Statistical Abstract, 1999)
1990
1995
1997
1998
Violent Crimes per 100,000 People
732
685
611
566
Murders, Manslaughter (1,000)
23.4
21.6
18.2
16.9
Prisoners (1,000)
740
1085
1192
1302
Criminal Justice Paradox: crime is decreasing and the number of prisoners is increasing.
Some reasons:
- zero tolerance and tough-on-crime approaches to deterring crime
- prison/detention has become a lucrative industry
- in just five years (1990-1995) the number of facilities holding 1,000 or more prisoners increased by 71%, from 211 to 360 (Statistical Abstract, 1998).
- some counties make money by renting their jails
Other factors:
- Over 90% of federal and State prisoners are males, though in 1990-1995 the number of female prisoners increased faster (56%) than the number of male prisoners (42%).
Illegal drugs
- In 1996, 11.4 million were arrested in the United States, and of these 1.2 million (11%) were arrested for drug abuse violations
- drug arrest rate jumped by 118% between 1980 and 1996
States and cities with highest and lowest violent crime rates in 1996:
State with highest violent crime rate:
- Florida (1,051 per 100,000 people)
State with lowest violent crime rate:
- North Dakota (84 violent crimes per 100,000)
Large city with highest violent crime rate:
- Newark, NJ (3,345 per 100,000)--this amounts to about one violent crime per hour 24 hours a day for a whole year
Large city with lowest violent crime rate:
- Honolulu, HI (313 per 100,000)
Houston = 1,267 per 100,000--this averages to 2.5 violent crimes per hour 24 hours a day for the whole year
III. Hate Crimes
(def.) crimes committed against a person, property or society because the target is identified with a certain group or culture.
In 1999, 7,876 hate crime incidents were reported by the FBI
III. Hate Crimes (see table)
Recorded Incidents in 1999
Population in 1997 (mil)
International migration 1990-1997
California
1,949
32
1,789,000
New York
590
18
841,000
Texas
262
19
598,000
III. Theories of Deviance
Early (and sometimes enduring) theories:
Theories of supernatural/demonic possesion
- the believe is that people may become deviant if they are affected by, or gain powers from, supernatural sources (persons thought to be witches were burned to death or drowned)
- this is a current believe of some ethnic and religious subcultures today
- as recently as today, lawyers in the state of Oklahoma are pursuing a lawsuite on behalf of an high school student suspended 15 days for allegedly casting a magic spell on an assistant school principal where she attends school
- ideas of evil and demonic possession remain popular today and attract millions of movie-goers to such shows as "The Exorcist" and the "Blair Witch Project"; pagan and satanic cults exist in some U.S. areas