Formal Social Control
Sociology: AQA GCSE, topic 4.2.2
Formal Social Control
For societies to function properly, there needs to be something in place to regulate people’s behaviour. These social controls can be formal or informal.
What is formal social control?
- Guidelines/rules/laws that are written down and people need to follow otherwise there will be sanctions by the formal agencies of social control such as the police and the criminal justice system (CJS).
Formal agencies of social control
- Police:
- They are the gatekeepers to the CJS.
- They are responsible for collection of evidence, investigation and possible arrest of people if found guilty.
- Even their presence can act as a deterrent.
Formal agencies of social control cont.
- Court system:
- Magistrate: responsible for less serious offences.
- Youth: responsible for crime committed by 10-17-year-old people.
- Crown: responsible for serious offences.
- The offenders are punished by: fines, probation, prison, ASBO (anti-social behaviour order.)
Formal agencies of social control 3
- The Home Office:
- Responsible for immigration, security (MI5), order (police).
- Ministry of Justice:
- Responsible for courts, prisons, probations.
- Serious Fraud Office:
- Responsible for serious cases of fraud and corruption.
Sociological perspectives on the CJS
- Functionalists:
- CJS is meritocratic, depicts changes taking place in society the given moment in time.
- Marxists:
- CJS reflects the ruling class as those who write the laws and those who enforce them are the bourgeoisie. It is more than expected that working class will be over represented in the crime statistics.
Test yourself on Formal Social Control
In the UK which court is responsible for less serious offences?