This episode offers an overview of Marxist and Neo-Marxist theories of crime, presenting them as conflict perspectives within sociology. They explain that traditional Marxism views crime as an inherent outcome of the capitalist system, which fosters inequality and exploitation, arguing that the law and criminal justice system primarily serve the interests of the ruling class. Furthermore, the sources introduce Neo-Marxism, or Critical Criminology, which expands upon traditional Marxist ideas by integrating concepts like labelling theory to provide a more nuanced understanding of deviance. This approach emphasises considering the broader capitalist context, individual motivations, and societal reactions to criminal acts, highlighting how both theories ultimately see crime as deeply connected to class struggle and power dynamics in society.