What are the functionalist perspectives on crime and deviance?

Functionalists believe that crimes are functional for society. Durkheim argues that crimes have 6 positive functions e.g. prostitution acting as a safety valvue to ensure that the most important part of society (family) isn't broken. Merton uses strain theory to explain crime as individuals term to crime as a way to meet the goals of mainstream society which are met in illegitimate means. For example, a societal goal is having wealth and in order to show this wealth, individuals buy branded goods but if someone can't afford this, they might shoplift in order to reach this goal. Hirschi uses his idea of control theory to explain why individual's don't commit crimes. He argues that individuals have bonds to different aspects of society such as the bond to the family. If these bonds are strong then individuals are less likely to commit crimes as they have responsibilities and loyalties to others which aren't worth risking committing a crime for.