The Social Distribution of Offending and Victimisation – A Level Sociology OCR Revision

Social Distribution of Offending

Social distribution of offending refers to the pattern of criminal behaviour in relation to different social groups.
Age: Youth are disproportionately associated with crime, particularly males aged 16-24. Reasons include peer pressure, lack of social responsibilities, and rebellion against social norms.
Class: Those from lower socio-economic classes tend to have higher rates of offending. Explanations can include material deprivation, lack of opportunities, and social exclusion.
Ethnicity: Certain ethnic groups may have higher offending rates due to factors like discrimination, social exclusion, and over-policing. However, it’s paramount to note that representations can often be distorted due to institutional racism.
Gender: Males commit more crimes according to official statistics. This may be due to biological, cultural, and social factors such as ideas about masculinity and social control of women.
Location: Urban areas generally have higher crime rates due to factors such as social instability, anonymity, and greater opportunities for crime.

Social Distribution of Victimisation

Structures of power and inequality influence who becomes a victim of crime.
Age: Young people are more likely to be victims of crime than older people, particularly violent crime. However, the elderly can be specifically targeted for certain crimes like scams or theft due to perceived vulnerability.
Class: Those from lower socio-economic classes experience higher rates of victimization, particularly for violent and property crimes. This is often due to factors like lacking resources for self-protection, and living in high-crime neighbourhoods.
Ethnicity: Ethnic minorities are at a greater risk of victimization. This can be influenced by factors such as socio-economic disadvantage, discrimination, and racialised patterns of offending.
Gender: Women are more likely to be victims of certain offences, such as domestic and sexual violence. Men, however, are more likely to be victims of violent crime in public places.
Location: People living in urban areas are at a increased risk of victimisation due to higher crime rates, social anonymity, and social deprivation.

Remember, social factors impact both who commits crime and who becomes a victim, illustrating the interlinking nature of offending and victimisation. It’s crucial to explore cross-over factors too, such as how class, ethnicity, and location can intersect to create particular experiences of crime.