NCJ Number
130346
Journal
Crime, Law and Social Change Volume: 15 Issue: 3 Dated: (May 1991) Pages: 213-254
Date Published
1991
Length
42 pages
Annotation
This paper explores both sides of the debate about the relative importance of socialist realism for progressive criminology and argues that while left realism has the potential of making a considerable contribution to the struggle for social justice, that contribution must rest on empirical observation.
Abstract
The local crime survey has potential, but raises a number of theoretical and methodological concerns which appear to have remained unexplored within current debates. Young's conception of the etiological crisis facing criminology is a crisis of definition only. Taylor's critique of left realism generally and the Islington Crime Survey specifically is misplaced as Taylor fails to notice the progressive potential that local crime survey technology offers for criminology, both academically and practically. Such a technology offers utility, but a number of methodological considerations must be examined in order to realize that potential. If left realism is to distinguish itself from a more conventional approach, local crime surveys must consider measurement of all movements within the process of crime construction. It must eliminate the conservative and sexist bias inherent in conventional surveys and cope with the sampling error produced by cost effective sampling designs, local versus national surveys, the use of proxy interviews, and the use of in-person rather than telephone interviews. 3 figures and 124 notes (Author abstract modified)