Week 4 Project
12/20/2020 Defining the Norms of a Society - SOC1001-Introduction to Sociology SU03
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Who determines and defines the norms of a society? This is an important question because the norms that are accepted will define who is deviant and who will face sanctions by society. One interpretation of who sets these norms falls within the social-conflict theory. Based on the ideas of Karl Marx, it specifies that those who have power in a society will set the norms that will be applied to all others. For example, laws are determined by lawyers, judges, and politicians, and enforced by the police. Another example can be seen by looking at high schools—the “in-crowd” determines the trends that others follow. Finally, we can see this determination of norms by looking at white-collar crime: it can have very wide-ranging negative effects on society, but those who commit it usually avoid being labeled as criminals.
Statistical Data Conclusions have been drawn by sociologists from the official statistics about crime in the United States. Statistical data can differentiate between those who are considered deviant and those who are not. By knowing this, we can deduce what groups are defining the norms of society. Official statistics show that the arrest rates on an average peak for those who are in their late adolescence and then decline as age advances. Generally, three of every four people apprehended by police are arrested for property crimes. It has also been shown that males commit eighty-four percent of violent crimes.
Those who are poor are found to commit more street crime than those who are affluent. Many more whites than African Americans are arrested for street crime. Yet, on a proportional basis of population, many more African Americans are arrested. At the same time, considerably fewer Asian Americans are arrested for crime.
Sociologists use crime data to understand patterns and trends within crime and deviance. Click on the link Uniform Crime Reporting below to explore the FBI database of crime statistics.
Arrest and Police Discretion It has been shown that police have a great deal of discretion in making arrests. There is a much greater chance of an arrest if there is a serious crime, there are witnesses to the crime, or if an African American has been accused.
The American justice system is an adversarial court system but most cases are resolved through plea bargains. It is important to note that regardless of how efficient the American justice system is, it does place those who have less power and affluence at a great disadvantage.