3.5.1 characteristics of crime

Question 1

What is crime defined as

Answer 1

any act (or lack of acting e.g. not paying your TV license) that violates the law and results in punishment by the state

Question 2

Due to crime being determined by law what is it

Answer 2

social construct as they rely on laws in each society and the social context in which the behaviours take place.

Question 3

What does the office of national statistics categorise crimes into

Answer 3

Victim-based crimes and Crimes against society

Question 4

What are Victim-based crimes

Answer 4

murder, violence and theft

Question 5

What are Crimes against society

Answer 5

public order offences, drug offences and possession of weapons

Question 6

Who suggested 7 categories of crime

Answer 6

Farr and Gibbons (1990)

Question 7

What are the 7 categories of crime according to farr and gibbons (1990)

Answer 7

• Property predatory crime
• Property fraudulent crime
• Interpersonal violence general
• Interpersonal violence sexual
• Transactional vice
• Order disruption
• Folk/mundane crime

Question 8

What is Property predatory crime

Answer 8

persons are involved in attempting to or actually taking the personal property of others without permission e.g. burglary, robbery or car theft.

Question 9

What is Property fraudulent crime

Answer 9

persons are involved in deceit or manipulation with the purpose of converting property or services of others to their own use e.g. embezzlement, fraud or bribery

Question 10

What is Interpersonal violence general

Answer 10

persons are involved in actions that threaten or cause personal harm e.g. murder, assault and kidnapping.

Question 11

What is Interpersonal violence sexual

Answer 11

persons are involved in actions that threaten or cause personal harm and contain a sexual element e.g. rape, sexual abuse and incest.

Question 12

What is Transactional vice

Answer 12

persons are involved in ‘victimless’ offences where there is a willing exchange of goods for services e.g. prostitution, illegal gambling and drug sales.

Question 13

What is Order disruption

Answer 13

persons are involved in actions where there is no direct victim, but concern is raised about potential victims e.g. resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, loitering and rioting

Question 14

What is Folk/mundane crime

Answer 14

Can range from minor rule violations e.g. fishing without a license, to more serious violations e.g. load regulations on commercial vehicles. Although, much legislation is justified in terms of creating order or efficiency, public generally regards such acts as an inconvenience or nuisance, rather than a crime

Question 15

What would the average person in the UK recieve if they were convicted of each crime they committed

Answer 15

total of six years in jail and been fined up to £61,000.

Question 16

What is the issue in terms of history with ‘crime’

Answer 16

means that, at any time in history, some behaviours may be deemed criminal whereas we may not regard them in the same way now.

Question 17

Give an example of a crime changing with time

Answer 17

In the UK homosexuality was illegal until 1969 and remains illegal now in some countries i.e. Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

Question 18

Why may breaking the law sometimes be morally right

Answer 18

Sometimes people break the law in order to highlight a problem with the law, the unjust actions of a particular individual or group.

Question 19

Give an example of someone breaking the law but was morally right

Answer 19

Nelson Mandela was arrested and spent 23 years in prison, however his actions can now be seen as heroic and inspirational.