Answer to Question #237994 in Sociology for Holi

Question

Pick a famous politician, business leader, or celebrity who has been arrested recently. What crime did he or she allegedly commit? Who was the victim? Explain his or her actions from the point of view of one of the major sociological paradigms. What factors best explain how this person might be punished if convicted of the crime?

Answer 1

Celebrity:                  Ronaldinho, former Brazilian football star.

Crime committed:    He tried to enter Paraguay with a fake Paraguayan passport and Identity Card.

Victims:                     No external victims in this case as the victim was Ronaldinho himself as he committed a crime of using a fake passport and Identity Card either knowingly or unknowingly as his lawyer claimed during submissions.

Sociological paradigm

The major sociological paradigm that touched this case is conflict theory. This type of theory analyses the factors social and economic factors of the suspect behind the committed crime. Under this sociological paradigm, the deviant behaviour exhibited by Ronaldinho does not augur well with the Paraguayan society. Conflict theory analyses deviant behaviour according to the social status of the deviant person or suspect, the power held by the individual, the financial muscle and the social class of the person whose deviant behaviour is being questioned. The rich and the bourgeoisie in the society get away with the crimes they commit by bribing their way out whereas the poor and ordinary people with no means pay the price for committing minor crimes.

From the case, it was established that Ronaldinho acquired the fake passport and ID from a local Brazilian businessman. I guess he paid enough money to get those items to facilitate his travel.

During court submission, the learned counsel representing Ronaldinho mentioned that his client was a celebrity and he was known all over the world and therefore a punishment meted on him should not be the same as those people who are not known. Consequently, he was confined in a jail equivalent to a luxury mansion where he got whatever he wanted. It was as if he having a private holiday on a yacht in Seychelles. This is clear favouritism simply because someone is a celebrity.

Ronaldinho is a secondary deviant as he has shown characteristics little expected from him by using fake travelling documents. The labelling of Ronaldinho as a deviant individual may either deter him or make him continue exhibiting more deviant behaviour.

Factors to inform judgement

The court using its wisdom will consider many factors in sentencing him. First of all the previous criminal record will inform the court and the justices on the bench to make an informed ruling while sentencing him. Another factor that will inform the decision of the court is the circumstances surrounding the crime. What made him use the fake travelling documents and the particular reason why he caught himself using the fake documents.