16. Criminology and realism
16. Criminology and realism
- Katherine S. WilliamsKatherine S. WilliamsLecturer in Law, University of Wales, Aberystwyth
Abstract
Course-focused and comprehensive, the Textbook on series provides an accessible overview of the key areas on the law curriculum. This chapter discusses the concepts of right realism and left realism, both of which approaches accept that there is a real crime problem and recognise the need to monitor the success of interventions to guarantee their cost-effectiveness. However, those on the right argue that criminology needs to stop trying to explain crime and start controlling behaviour, and urge the State to get tough on crime. Those on the left have been disillusioned with radical and critical criminologies, and search for simple solutions to real problems for real people who are not able to protect themselves.
