Crime and inequality

In this unit you will explore the contemporary and historical significance of 'difference' in structuring patterns of law making, offending, victimisation, criminal justice system responses and experiences. You will be introduced to theoretical paradigms and empirical approaches for identifying and understanding marginalisation and inequality in society. You will be taught how to identify and draw connections between broader societal experiences of inequality and marginalisation and the development and orientation of systems of law and criminal justice. The unit focuses on factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, (dis)ability, regional inequalities, income and wealth distribution, social class, and homelessness, and examines how current patterns of social and economic inequality contribute to the disproportionate victimisation and criminalisation of certain marginalised populations in society.