6 Flashcards
Functionalist perspective
- Those who ignore rules are not properly socialized
- society must remove these people from circulation
conflict perspective
- political and economic reforms are needed
- criminal justice system act in their own interest and that of the privileged elite
Ideal system involve
- Helpful police
- Swift indictments
- Convictions
- Fair sentences
- Restitution
Punishment
- perpetrator learns a lesson
- makes examples of criminals
- enhances public safety
- prevents vigilantism
- morally sound practice
Deterrence theory
if individuals are punished they will learn a lesson not to behave that way again (specific deterrence); and that the suffering of punished persons will serve as a warning to others (general deterrence).
Restitution
- restores victims to their financial condition before crime
- recoup losses and pay bills incurred
Authorities want victims to
- report
- identify
- testify
second wound
Additional emotional suffering inflicted on a victim by insensitive caregivers and family members; usually arising from victim-blaming accusations.
burnout
Physical and emotional exhaustion caused by stress.
complaints are …
- founded
- unfounded
- defounded
founded
verified by police
unfounded
police reject claims
defounded
police believe a crime occurred but not as serious as reported
clearance rates
- Cases are solved when closed, even if no conviction
- Counts crimes closed, not number of people charged
- indicates effectiveness of police departments
cold case squad
A special unit of detectives whose assignment is to reopen, reexamine, and resolve unsolved cases.
