>>6923144>>6923144Sociology 101 here, but...
One of the original structural sociologists looked at deviancy and came up with 2 "functions" that it performs. Boundary maintenance and Adaptability.
Boundary maintenance is that when crime happens, you can unite against the wrongdoer and reinforce the values that we are supposed to share while condemning the ones we shouldn't have.
And Adaptability is what you're on about. Change and progression occurs with an act of deviancy and the law will try to keep it criminal until they realise why this is actually beneficial to legalise or allow.
Like homosexuality and lgbt stuff. If it makes them happy and they'll work harder... Might aswell legalise it.
Obviously that theory is suggesting that a certain level of crime needs to always be present and maintained, never completely trying to tackle crime. And it's definitely present in our societies to varying degrees (atleast in the UK today, not sure about the US but I'm sure there are areas where the police don't even bother going to or will tackle one certain crime and then completely ignore it for a while)
Sorry for the long and maybe slightly inaccurate post. Working from memory.
