1.1: Compare Criminal Behaviour And Deviance Flashcards
Define deviance
Behaviour that goes against the dominant social norms of a specific group or society, which causes some kind of critical reaction
Give the 3 factors affecting deviance
Norms
Values
Moral codes
Define norms
The social expectations that guide behaviour and explain why people act the way they do
Define values
Rules that are shared by the majority of a society
Define moral codes
The accepted ways of behaving, which breaking causes consequences
Who are formal sanctions issued by?
Authorities like:
- police
- court
-school
Give examples of formal sanctions
Fines
Detentions/ exclusions
Prison
Who are informal sanctions issued by?
The general public’s response
Give examples of informal sanctions
Name calling
Grounding a child
Telling someone off verbally
Give the social definition of a crime
An action that has consequences that are detrimental in some way to the whole community or one or more people within it
What is actus reus Latin for?
Guilty act
What are the 3 forms to the actus reus?
1) action - like throwing a rock at a window
2) omission - like failing to feed your children
3) state of being - like being in possession of stolen goods
What does omission mean?
Failure to do something
What are the 2 elements of a crime that the crown lawyer must prove?
The actus reus and the mens rea
What is men’s rea Latin for?
Guilty mind
Give the 3 forms for the men’s rea:
1) intention
2) knowledge- like knowing documents are forged
3) willful blindness- like deliberately avoiding asking why a £10k phone is only £50
Give 3 examples of non-court sanctions:
Cautions
Conditional cautions
Penalty notices
Explain cautions
Given by the police for minor crimes (like graffiti) for those over 10 years old
You have to admit to the charge and agree to the caution
Only used for a 1st offence
You wont get a criminal record
Explain conditional cautions
Given for crimes like
- speeding
- DND
Given by the police
An example: if you were drunk driving you have to attend a drug clinic, go in for a driver awareness course and repair the damage you’v done
Explain penalty notices
Given for crimes like:
- shoplifting
-DND
Only given to those over 18 years old
If you pay the penalty, you will not be convicted
Give the 4 court sanctions:
Custodial sentences
Community sentences
Fines
Discharge
Explain custodial sentences
Given for crimes like:
- murder
- rape
- GBH
Means imprisonment or detainment (at a young offenders’ institution)
Can be fixed term or or indeterminate
Explain community sentences
An alternative sanction to prison which has different examples like:
- probation order
- curfew: electronic tagging
- community payback: litter-picking
Explain fines
Financial penalty
The size of the fine depends on the crime type
Define discharge
When the person is released from court without any further action
Explain discharge
Can be conditional
The person must not face another crime within a time period or they could face a custodial sentence
