The Relationship Between Social Class & Crime | Sociology for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

Official Statistics on Social Class & Crime

Official data highlights a connection between criminal behavior and social characteristics like social class, gender, ethnicity, and age. Prisons have a disproportionate number of males, young individuals, Black people, and those with lower education levels compared to the general population (Maguire, 2007). Specifically, working-class individuals are overrepresented in prison populations, indicating a clear link between social class and criminal activity.

According to the Trust for London (2023):

• Areas with the highest income deprivation recorded 40% more crimes in 2023 than the least income-deprived 10% of areas.
• Violent crimes, robberies, and sexual offenses are 2.1 times more common in the most income-deprived areas compared to the least deprived.
• The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) (2021) indicates that living in a deprived area increases the likelihood of experiencing crime by over 40%.

Explanations for the Link Between Social Class & Crime

Sociologists explore how social class influences criminal and deviant behavior through various theories and perspectives.

Merton’s Anomie Theory

​From a functionalist viewpoint, Merton’s anomie theory explains crime in the USA. The “American Dream” encourages everyone to pursue wealth and success, but this goal is often unattainable for many due to their socioeconomic background. For working-class individuals, limited opportunities may lead to crime as an alternative path to achieve success.

Working-Class Subcultures

​Cohen’s (1955) subcultural theory focuses on deviant behavior among working-class boys. These boys face status frustration when they fail to meet middle-class standards in school. As a result, they may join gangs, where participation in delinquent subcultures provides a sense of status and belonging.

Bias in the Criminal Justice System (CJS)

​Bias within the criminal justice system, including police and courts, contributes to the link between social class and crime. Marxists argue that the system disproportionately targets certain crimes, such as street crime, and specific groups, including the working class, ethnic minorities, and youth. Meanwhile, official statistics often underreport crimes like corporate fraud, which are typically committed by more powerful groups.

White-Collar & Corporate Crime

White-Collar Crime

​White-collar crime refers to offenses committed by individuals in high-status roles, such as lawyers, accountants, or business managers. Examples include tax evasion, fraud (e.g., falsifying expense claims), and identity theft. These crimes are often hard to detect since they occur in professional settings rather than public spaces. For instance, fraud may go unnoticed due to the lack of an obvious victim, and police are rarely involved. As a result, much white-collar crime remains undetected, unreported, and unrecorded, making it an “invisible” crime.

Corporate Crime

​Corporate crimes are committed by company directors to boost profits or gain market advantages. These offenses include:

• Selling inappropriate products to customers.
• Environmental violations, such as air or water pollution.
• Insider trading, like selling shares before public disclosure of financial losses.
• Corporate tax evasion through fraudulent tax filings.
• Health and safety violations, such as maintaining unsafe work environments.

Governments often do not prioritize tracking corporate crime statistics, and prosecuting these offenses is challenging because corporations can afford skilled legal defense teams.