Question

The film The House I Live In argues that the war on drugs and the system of mass incarceration in the US are a "war on the poor." Which criminological theory best explains this position?

a. Social control theory
b. Labeling theory
c. Conflict theory
d. Strain theory

Answer 1

The criminological theory that best explains the premise of the film "The House I Live In," which views the war on drugs and mass incarceration as a 'war on the poor,' is conflict theory.

The correct option is c.

Step-by-step explanation:

The film "The House I Live In" posits that the war on drugs and mass incarceration in the US disproportionately affect the poor, presenting this as a form of systemic conflict. The criminological theory that best explains this position is conflict theory.

This theory examines social and economic factors as drivers of criminal deviance, pointing to systemic inequalities and power imbalances within society that result in the disenfranchisement of lower economic groups.

It suggests that these tensions lead to laws and practices that may disproportionately target or affect the poor, aligning well with the film's premise of a 'war on the poor.'

The correct option is c.