Unit Three: Lab Questions

How We’re Priming Some Kids for College – And Others for
Prison
1. According to Goffman, whom are we sending to prison and
simultaneously, what else are we ‘saddling’ these people with?

We are sending poor children, mostly from African-American and Latino communities,
according to Goffman. They are' saddling' these children with court fees, probation and
parole conditions, low-level warrants, requiring them to stay in half-way houses and
under house arrest, and challenging them to join a police force targeting poor colored
neighborhoods, not for the purpose of promoting public safety, but for the purpose of
making arrests.

2. Describe some of the ‘games’ that Goffman witnessed kids playing in

the neighborhood that she lived in following college. How does it
make you feel to hear these stories?

Goffman saw children chasing where one child was going to play cop. The kids would
search and "seize" items off each other and other kids would give up beforehand and
just lay down on their heads with their arms. The kids would tell each other things like,
"I'm going to lock you up and you're never coming home!" I'm upset to hear the kids in
these communities know this kind of thing as a norm, and they're so used to it that
they're playing it as a game.

3. Why do we see more kids from poor neighborhoods go to prison

compared to kids from more privileged neighborhoods and
upbringings? Explain your reasons and use evidence from the video.

We see more children from poor neighborhoods going to prison because they have the
poorest education in the country, live in the worst environments, are subjected to
extremely violent conditions, and have the least amount of family support. Such kids
are expected to do nothing wrong, or prosecute them. Children living in more affluent
areas receive better schooling, have less economic problems and are subjected to
normal circumstances that exclude crime. Such kids are allowed to do something
wrong sometimes without being charged.

4. Discuss ways in which we are seeing progress in the criminal justice

system today and explain what spurred this change.

Police are now wearing cams on them so we know what's happening in an accident. If
there are cases of police abuse in America, they now wear body cams to see the reality
and see who really started the violence.
 Crime and Community
1. Based on the information in the video, how would being from a
middle-class family change the outcome for a young person’s primary
deviance? Explain how the information in the video supports your
point.

Reference to the video of the crime and the community.

If you are born into a middle-class family, your likelihood of committing a crime is
dramatically reduced as you are surrounded in your neighborhood by conventional
working people.
Compared to poor neighborhood where most gangs and other illegal organizations
operate, this situation is different.

2. How would the closing of a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

contribute to the criminology of place?

DVM closure will result in more people driving around without a license. The Motor
Vehicles Administration is a U.S. government department that issues permits for
vehicle registration and driving. The department's closure will mean that cars will no
longer be licensed and driving licenses will not be issued.

3. Do you think it is important to distinguish “reactionary crimes” from

other types of crimes? Why or why not?

Yes, the distinction between reactionary crimes and other types of crimes is important.
Because reactionary crimes can be perceived as less sinful, and violations that are
committed because of any reaction may have a purpose behind them, but they are not
as bad as intentional crimes. For example, you're harming someone to defend yourself
from a criminal activity like theft or something like that or you're defending someone
else from this resulting in a crime.

4. What do you think the role of the community is in reducing crime?

Why do you think communities do not take proactive steps to limit
crime and how could they be encouraged to do so?

I think the community's role in reducing crime is not to actively catch the criminals, but
to help those in need within their community.
When community members help each other, people are not going to be in a situation
where they are struggling to find food.
This alone will dramatically reduce the number of crimes, but I don't think it happens
because there's no one who dares to say and acknowledge that their community is
having a problem due to the fear of being judged.
Someone needs to step up and say openly that the community members who carried
out the criminal acts need to be shamed and encourage those who don't work together
to develop their own economy.
5. Do you agree that expungement, or the erasing of criminal records,
would help reduce crime? Which of the theories discussed in this
chapter supports or disputes this point?

It wouldn't be. Logically assuming this wouldn't be because you're still part of the
system even though your record is washed. From a legal point of view, this isn't even a
book.

6. The focus of this video was crime in Memphis, Tennessee. What

connections can you draw between the video and crime in your
community?

If an environmental law were in place, a company would like to set up factories, they
would not be aloud. Of example, if there are endangered species living there and
publicx wants to build a store there, they are not going to be loud.