1.1 - Devience and Crime Flashcards
What is Deviance??
Deviance is any behaviour that differs from normal. In other words, it is behaviour that is unusual, uncommon or out of the ordinary in some way. It could be unusual in one of three different ways:
Behaviour that is unusual and good - heroically risking your life
Behaviour that is unusual and eccentric or bizarre - talking to the trees
Behaviour that is unusual and bad or disapproved of - physically attacking someone
Develop deviance??
Obviously it is this one that is most relevant to us Criminologists.
This type of ‘rule breaking’ leads to a critical, hostile or disapproving reaction from others (society as a whole or a sub-group within society).
Their reaction may involve punishing the deviant in some way.
What are sanctions??
Informal - “unspoken”
Formal - set by instiutions and clear rules if broken
What else can you mention for sanctions??
Positive sanctions - rewards for behaviour that society approves of.
Social Control
What is the legal definition of crime??
Legal - MR + AR
Include Strict liability
What is the social definition of crime??
Although law defines crime as a harmful act some acts arent harmful
Through differing social views
Through Law enforcement
Through Law-making
What is Through differing social views??
The public often have a different view of what acts are ‘really crimes’, as compared with the legal definition.
What is Through Law enforcement??
Law enforcment being influence by Gov targets, public wants in certain areas.
What is Through Law-making??
Law-makers are influenced by the media, campaigning pressure groups or big businesses to ensure harmful acts are classified as crimes.
Sometimes laws are changed to reflect changes in public opinion, with some actions being decriminalised and other, previously legal ones being redefined as crimes
Whats an exmaple of law definitions of crime changing??
Decriminalisation of Gay due to public and media pressure.
1967 - Sexual Offences Act 1967 private sex acts between consenting men over the age of 21
2014 - Same sex marriages recognised same as man-woman
What are criminal acts??
Indictable
Summary
Triable-either way
What are formal sanctions against criminals??
Court sanctions - Custodial, Community sentences, Discharge
Police Sanctions - cautions
What are the informal sanctions against criminals??
Offender will receive a criminal record. Depending on the offence and the court’s sentence, there may also be other implications.
Exclusion from certain occupations (e.g. working with children)
Could be placed on the Violent and Sex Offenders register.
They may be banned from travelling to certain countries.
There may be restrictions on adoption, jury service and standing for elected office. It could even be a problem when buying insurance.
