3.5.1 characteristics of crime Flashcards
What is crime defined as
any act (or lack of acting e.g. not paying your TV license) that violates the law and results in punishment by the state
Due to crime being determined by law what is it
social construct as they rely on laws in each society and the social context in which the behaviours take place.
What does the office of national statistics categorise crimes into
Victim-based crimes and Crimes against society
What are Victim-based crimes
murder, violence and theft
What are Crimes against society
public order offences, drug offences and possession of weapons
Who suggested 7 categories of crime
Farr and Gibbons (1990)
What are the 7 categories of crime according to farr and gibbons (1990)
- Property predatory crime
- Property fraudulent crime
- Interpersonal violence general
- Interpersonal violence sexual
- Transactional vice
- Order disruption
- Folk/mundane crime
What is Property predatory crime
persons are involved in attempting to or actually taking the personal property of others without permission e.g. burglary, robbery or car theft.
What is Property fraudulent crime
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
What is Interpersonal violence general
persons are involved in actions that threaten or cause personal harm e.g. murder, assault and kidnapping.
What is Interpersonal violence sexual
persons are involved in actions that threaten or cause personal harm and contain a sexual element e.g. rape, sexual abuse and incest.
What is Transactional vice
persons are involved in ‘victimless’ offences where there is a willing exchange of goods for services e.g. prostitution, illegal gambling and drug sales.
What is Order disruption
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
What is Folk/mundane crime
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
What would the average person in the UK recieve if they were convicted of each crime they committed
total of six years in jail and been fined up to £61,000.
What is the issue in terms of history with ‘crime’
means that, at any time in history, some behaviours may be deemed criminal whereas we may not regard them in the same way now.
Give an example of a crime changing with time
In the UK homosexuality was illegal until 1969 and remains illegal now in some countries i.e. Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Why may breaking the law sometimes be morally right
Sometimes people break the law in order to highlight a problem with the law, the unjust actions of a particular individual or group.
Give an example of someone breaking the law but was morally right
Nelson Mandela was arrested and spent 23 years in prison, however his actions can now be seen as heroic and inspirational.
