Coursework: Marxist Analysis of Crime and Criminal Justice, Law 101

This essay provides a detailed Marxist analysis of crime and criminal justice, exploring the core tenets of Marxist criminology and its application to understanding crime within capitalist societies. The essay begins by defining crime and introducing the core concepts of Marxist theory. It then delves into the key features of a Marxist analysis, including the argument that capitalism is inherently criminogenic due to its emphasis on self-interest, materialism, and inequality. The essay examines how the legal system is viewed by Marxists as a tool of the ruling class (bourgeoisie) to control the working class (proletariat), and how this class struggle influences the creation and enforcement of laws. The analysis discusses political and state crime and concludes by summarizing the implications of this theory and the potential for social change. The essay includes a discussion of the role of the police, the judicial system and the impact of capitalism on criminal justice and the commitment of crime. The essay also includes a conclusion and references.

Marxist analysis of crime and
criminal justice

INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
 Explain and evaluate the key features of a Marxist analysis of crime and criminal justice.. .3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFRENCES...................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Crime is considered as those activities which are performed in order to disturb peace
existing within society. Such activities are based over various kinds of aspects of society which
is both public and private in nature. Crime in simple sense means an act performed by an
individual to kill another person. In order to deal with crimes various kinds of laws has been
formed over making sure that crime is been controlled within a country. These laws have lead
upon forming of criminal justice system which helps in forming laws in more effective manner.
In this essay things to be covered is based upon Karl Marx ideology in relation to criminal justice
and crime is been explained.
MAIN BODY
 Explain and evaluate the key features of a Marxist analysis of crime and criminal
justice.
Marxist criminology is one of the schools of criminology which is based upon structural
functional school that is focused over products with stability and continuity taking place within
society. It is separate from functionalists and political philosophy but the main focus is over
changes taking place in society, identification and disruptive forces over making industrialized
society and also describes about power wealth, prestige, and the perceptions of the world. "The
shape and character of the legal system in complex societies can be understood as deriving from
the conflicts inherent in the structure of these societies which are stratified economically and
politically". It is concerned with the causal relationships between society and crime, i.e. to
establish a critical understanding of how the immediate and structural social environment gives
rise to crime and criminogenic conditions. Under it Karl Marx has argued about laws and its
mechanism through which social class is been affected inn negative manner. Thus the school in
which this theory is developed is also known as Marxists school of crime and talks about those
crimes which is based over those kind of elements which are present within society that is
political crime, state crime, and state-corporate crime. Marxism provides over systematic and
theoretical aspects based upon which to interrogate social structural arrangements and those
hypothesis economic power which has been used by politicians over making substantiality within
their power. The theory deals over those elements within society which impacts individual’s life
and makes criminal intention rise within. Also this theory has been making various kinds of

political affects which related to crime. The in the theory the hypothesis that economic power is
translated into political power substantially accounts for the general disempowerment of the
majority who live in the modern state and the limitations of political discourse. Hence, whether
directly or indirectly, it informs much of the research into social phenomena not only in
criminology, but also in semiotics and the other disciplines which explore the structural
relationships of power, knowledge, meaning, and positional interests within society (Peterson,
2017).
Theory is known as Marxists criminologists’ theory and has been explaining about
Bourgeois ideology which has given reflection in relation to crime. In this theory police and
other lawful authority working for politicians is been explained. The focus has been made over
judicial system and how it get influenced by other factors in society. Further the theory is based
upon crime and aspects present in capitalists society that leads over crime committed in them.
The theory has been focused over making various kinds of Bourgeoisie or police which is been
badly impacted form the politician and richer class of society. Karl Max has talked over cases
which are based upon false allegations within society. Manner in which impact has been created
over the revolution done upon crime of such kinds. Further various four main aspects is been
covered within society is the main points of theory that is Capitalism is Crimogenic in this
capitalists system makes encouraged over criminal behavior. The laws is been made in relation
over Capitalist and is based upon interest of one another. All the criminal activities is divided
into various class and justice is costly in relation over process involved in judiciary. Also the
states do not practice faire means of law and is based over selective law. The criminal justice if
mainly related to making ideology and functions to be formed. Also the theory has been
explaining about few things which are capitalism makes encouraging over pursuing of self
interest and not over public duty. Capitalists encourages over making an individual to be
materialistic consumers, making us aspire to an unrealistic and often unattainable lifestyle.
Capitalism in its wake generates massive inequality and poverty, conditions which are
correlated with higher crime rates.
Under the first reason capitalism makes encouraging over pursuing of self interest
and not over public duty Marxist Sociologist David Gordon says that Capitalist societies are
‘dog eat dog societies’ in which each individual company and each individual is encouraged to

look out for their own interests before the interests of others, before the interests of the
community, and before the protection of the environment. Marxists point out that in a Capitalist
society, there is immense competitive pressure to make more money, to be more successful, and
to make more profit, because in a competitive system, this is the only way to ensure survival. In
such a context, breaking the law can seem insignificant compared to the pressure to succeed and
pressures to break the law affect all people: from the investment banker to the unemployed gang
member. The second things Capitalists encourages over making an individual to be
materialistic consumers, making us aspire to an unrealistic and often unattainable lifestyle.
Is related to crime in a way that lots of people and organization does crime but get rid of it or are
not been arrested which makes other people lose interest and hope within judicial system of a
country. Thus encourages crime within society at faster rate in more drastic manner and also the
ideology makes prove that crime is been committed more when an official is of corrupt nature.
The come third thing Capitalism in its wake generates massive inequality and poverty,
conditions which are correlated with higher crime rates. In this point the theory talks that
capital system forms radical inequality and all the top level officers are being involved within it
which makes justice to be stopped and make crime rates increased. Also the children get
influenced with this in wrong manner (White, Perrone and Howes, 2019).
Also Marx has argued over making injustice caused due the unequal behaviors within society. In
this part of the theory main discussion is over economic interest of higher official within a
particular case. The marx is of opinion that Capitalists economy is not good since it makes
criminal justice to be interfered from every aspect. Capitalists makes crime to be done both on
street and off street which means crime of criminal nature and white collar crime. Marxist
theory condemns Westsern capitalist society as an unjust divide between two classes: the ruling
bourgeoisie who own the means of production (the capitalists), and the proletariat, the poor
masses with nothing to offer but their own labor. Because the bourgeoisie control the means of
production, they control the political state and thus their position of power over the proletariat is
perpetuated. This system leaves the proletariat oppressed, with no power whatsoever to alleviate
their situation. In the words of Karl Marx, “There must be something rotten in the very core of a
social system which increases its wealth without diminishing its misery,”. According to Marxist
theory, the bourgeoisie will remain in power unjustly oppressing the proletariat until the poor
masses cooperate with one another to violently overthrow the capitalist government and

economy and replace it with a classless, socialist system. It is unsurprising then, that the Marxist
approach to crime centers on this class struggle between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat.
Because the capitalists control the political state, they also control the criminal justice system.
The system appears to serve the interests of the proletariat, but it is in reality used against them
by the ruling class. Greenberg states that the theme dominating Marxist criminology is the
“contention that criminal legislation is determined not by moral consensus or the common
interests of the entire society, but by the relative power of groups determined to use the criminal
law to advance their own special interests or to impose their moral preferences on others,”. For
Marxists then, the cause of crime is dictated by social forces, namely capitalism, and thus
remains beyond the control of individuals. Then the ateory talks about implication of policy in
this main focus is over those aspects within which am individual criminal or about specific
environment in order to find criminal problem. The theory has been focused over making
capitalists negative aspects identified which has made commitment of crime increased. In this all
kinds of specific elements of society is been covered which makes crime to increase within
society. Also high competitiveness and capitalists system makes commitment of crime. Then
motive of earning high profit leads over crime commitment and performing welfare but with self
interests makes welfare to be taken place in society. Then the result of the theory is that various
kinds of conditions makes capitalists society created which makes conditions and crime to be
increased in drastic manner. This makes common man suffers a lot and in order to makes basic
needs satisfied crime is been committed. The theory is mainly focused over developing
sociological structure. In short, the only solution to the crime problem as defined by Marxist
theory involves the complete annihilation of capitalism and the subsequent adoption of
socialism(Xenakis and Cheliotis, 2021).
The essay is reacted over theory that is been given by Karl Marx upon various aspects
giving birth to crime. Under the theory various kinds of negative part in relation to capitalists
society is covered with these elements that makes crime take place within society. The in this
kind of theory main focus is over those aspects which makes an individual commit crime. Also
the essay has been over basic parts or concepts which is related to theory. The theory makes
definition to be formed in relation over capitalists crime and normal crime existing within society
in relation with social welfare.

CONCLUSION
From the above discussion it can be concluded that crime and justice is one of the basic
elements present within society. In this crime is based upon these activities which are harmful for
peace and order within society. Under such activities crime has been developed due to various
elements of society. Then in this essay theory of crime in relation to Marxists is been covered
which is based upon capitalists crime talking place within society. Such kind of crime can be
stopped only when social interest is been developed rather than personal interests. In the end
conclusion is been given.

REFRENCES
Books and journals
Brown, R., 2018. Understanding law enforcement information sharing for criminal intelligence
purposes. Trends and Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice [electronic resource], (566),
pp.1-15.
Brown, T and et, al.2019. Trends and issues in crime and criminal justice. Trends and Issues in
Crime and Criminal Justice, (568), pp.1-17.
Daly, K., 2018. Feminist thinking about crime. In The essential criminology reader (pp. 205-
213). Routledge.
Fernandes, A.D. and Crutchfield, R.D., 2018. Race, crime, and criminal justice: Fifty years since
The Challenge of Crime in a Free Society. Criminology & Public Policy, 17(2), pp.397-
417.
McGrath, A., Gerard, A. and Colvin, E., 2020. Care-experienced children and the criminal
justice system. Trends and Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice, (600), pp.1-14.
Muscat, M.E., 2017. The role of the police in the protection of witnesses and victims of crime: a
criminal law perspective (Bachelor's thesis, University of Malta).
Nielsen, M.O., 2019. Contextualization for Native American crime and criminal justice
involvement. In Native Americans, crime, and justice (pp. 10-19). Routledge.
Peterson, R.D., 2017. Interrogating race, crime, and justice in a time of unease and racial tension.
Criminology, 55(2), pp.245-272.
White, R., Perrone, S. and Howes, L.M., 2019. Crime, criminality and criminal justice.
Xenakis, S. and Cheliotis, L.K., 2021. The violence of inequality: Race and lobbying in the
politics of crime and criminal justice in the United States.