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that can be committed by both males and females. However, the number of males
convicted of rape when compared to females is quite rare. Official statistics also
indicate that males often commit more crimes and are arrested more often than
females. Many sociologists such as Abbott and Wallace (1990) note that it is the
difference in socialization experiences, with males having a more aggressive
experience contributing to their likeliness in committing more crimes.
Furthermore, social class is also very pivotal in understanding the misconceptions
positioned by criminal statistics. Mustapha notes that those within the lower social
classes are often the ones to receive higher bails, longer sentences and more guilty
verdicts when arrested. This coincides with Interactionist Sutherlands Differential
Association theory (1939), in which he focused on the polices focus with lower class
males which results in their representation within official crime statistics. Cloward
and Ohlins Differential Opportunity theory (1960) posit the idea that lower class
males are regularly represented in crime statistics, as society places middle and
upper class goals for them to attain, which in many cases are unattainable.
Therefore, in order to attain these goals, they often employ illegitimate means
which are often illegal. Sutherland agreed with Cloward and Ohlin and even
advanced that they often utilize these means when they group together and form
gangs which Jamaica and many other Caribbean societies are familiar with criminal
activities committed by gangs.
Sutherland (1960) refers to white collar crimes as crimes committed by a person of
respectability and high social status in the course of his/her occupation including
embezzlement, tax frauds, etc. Though it is often unreported within the Caribbean
region, white collar and corporate crimes are more consequential for society than
ordinary street crimes. The conflict perspective also highlights the viewpoint that
the laws within society are often created by those within the upper class as a way of
protecting themselves from any formal punishment. In addition, those within the
elite also has the means of insulating themselves from punishment as they have the
financial resources to bribe officials and granting shorter sentences as a result.
Therefore, the main point that the elites do commit criminal activities, however, it is
not actively reported within official crime statistics give the impression that those
within the upper class do not commit crimes, which is false. This therefore give
crime statistics a very misleading outcome as its results do not capture the very
nature of criminal activities committed by those within the upper class.
In conclusion, it can be seen that official crime statistics is important within society
as it provides a basic analysis and understanding of the social distribution of
criminal activity within society. However, these statistics are often misleading and
provide very inaccurate results as many crimes are not officially reported due to
various factors such as gender as well as social class.