Which theory states the police dominate the working class for the benefit of the industrial elite?

• A. Class-Control Theory
• B. Crime-Control Theory
• C. Disorder-Control Theory
• D. Substantive Law

Answer: (A)

Class-control theory explains policing as an instrument of power used by the ruling class to keep the working class in check and protect the interests of the industrial elite. It argues that the state and its police are not neutral; they enforce laws and apply sanctions in ways that maintain the economic and political order that benefits those at the top. This means actions like policing labor organizing, suppressing protests, or prioritizing property protection over workers’ rights are ways police serve elite interests and control dissent, rather than acting purely for public safety or crime reduction.

In contrast, crime-control theory centers on deterring crime and maintaining social order through efficient enforcement, without inherently framing police as serving elite interests. Substantive law concerns the content of the laws themselves, not the power dynamics of who enforces them. Disorder-control theory isn’t the standard framework used to describe this dynamic.