Quinney’s Social Reality Of Crime

Shivangi. R. Pandey, Faculty Associate in Haveli Institute of Legal Studies and Research affiliated to Mumbai University

ABSTRACT

Richard Quinney's "Social Reality of Crime" explores the concept of crime, its fluid societal definition, and its intricate link to power distribution. Quinney argues that criminal law's evolution is influenced by those with influence shaping legal definitions to serve their interests. The paper introduces competing perspectives on deviance, emphasizing positivism's focus on observable deviation and social constructionism's reliance on societal norms. Quinney's groundbreaking 1970 theory, "The Social Reality of Crime," challenged traditional views of criminal conduct and inspired scholars to rethink criminological paradigms. The theory outlines four principles that underscore the roles of subordinate and dominant classes in criminal activity, ideology creation, law definition, and enforcement. Quinney claims that criminal law is wielded by the state and ruling class to preserve the capitalist system. Paper concludes by summarizing Quinney's assertion that a divided society artificially produces the concept of crime, subject to definitions by power segments.