Which description best matches Agencies of Social Control?

• A. The budget allocated to agencies.
• B. Organizations enforcing laws and societal norms.
• C. The number of crimes reported.
• D. The rate of recidivism.

Answer: (B)

Agencies of social control are the institutions that enforce laws and societal norms to keep order and manage deviance. This includes formal bodies like the police, courts, and probation services, as well as informal mechanisms within schools, families, and communities. Their job is to define what is acceptable, monitor behaviour, and apply sanctions when rules are broken, which helps deter rule-breaking and maintain social order.

The other options focus on resources, data, or outcomes rather than what these agencies actually do. A budget describes resources available to agencies. The number of crimes reported is a measurement of crime incidence, not the function of social control. The rate of recidivism is an outcome showing reoffending after intervention, not a description of what agencies are.