Creating crime - Its as easy as picking low hanging fruit

What is crime is a matter of debate.  As Nils Christie has pointed out there is an unlimited number of 'acts' which can chose to define as crimes. One area which has seen a real growth of 'crime' in both the UK and the US has been behaviour in school.  Matters that have traditional regarded as internal matters to be dealt with through the schools disciplinary procedures are increasingly being criminalised.  For the police it is like taking sweets off a kid - well easy.  But the convictions and cautions are criminal records that rule out life opportunities for the children involved.

An example of how far this has gone is illustrated by this news from New York

Nils Christie reflects on Deviance and Social control

Nils Christie is one of the most important critical criminologists and his work has been very influential. In these videos he reflects on deviance and social control questioning our common sense understandings of everyday concepts like crime.

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