AC 1.1- Compare Criminal Behaviour And Deviance

Question 1

Norms

Answer 1

Specific rules or socially accepted standards that govern people’s behaviour in certain situations. Norms of society are usually linked to its values.

Question 2

Values

Answer 2

General principles or guidelines for how we should live our lives. Tell us what is right and wrong, good and bad.

Question 3

Moral codes

Answer 3

A set of basic rules, values and principles held by an individual, group, organisation or society as a whole. It can be written or it can be written.

Question 4

Deviance

Answer 4

Behaviour that differs from the normal. It is behaviour that breaks social convention and that is unusual, uncommon or out of the ordinary in some way.

Question 5

Three types of deviance

Answer 5

Unusual and good. Unusual and eccentric or bizarre. Unusual and bad/disapproved of.

Question 6

Formal sanctions for disapproved deviance.

Answer 6

Formal sanctions: imposed by official bodies; police, courts. Punishments for breaking formal written rules or laws; fining an offender for theft.

Question 7

Informal sanctions for disapproved deviance

Answer 7

Used when the rules are not formally written down and are ‘unspoken.’ When these are broken, people show their disapproval in informal ways.

Question 8

Legal definition of criminal behaviour

Answer 8

Any action that is forbidden by the criminal law. For a court to consider a defendant’s actions to be a crime, the action must have two elements: actus reus- Latin for ‘guilty act’ and mens rea- Latin for ‘guilty mind.’ They must have done something that law forbids and they must have done so with bad intentions.

Question 9

Strict liability

Answer 9

Mens rea isn’t always required, the wrongful act on its own can be enough to secure a conviction.

Question 10

Self defence

Answer 10

Assaulting someone with the deliberate intention to harm them is usually a criminal act. But, in self defence it is not a crime if it is reasonable.

Question 11

Social definition of crime

Answer 11

Acts that break a set of norms. Not all harmful acts are criminal and not all criminal acts are harmful.

Question 12

Court sanctions: custodial sentences

Answer 12

Serious offences are punished with these and the length of the sentence can vary from a matter of days, up to life. Prisoners serving life are usually eligible to apply for parole after approx 15 years

Question 13

Court sanctions: community sentences

Answer 13

Served in the community e.g. probation orders, curfews. Fines are financial penalties, more serious to the offence. A conditional discharge involves the offender committing no further offence for a given period. The court may grant an unconditional discharge.

Question 14

Police sanctions: Cautions

Answer 14

Warnings given from police or CPS for minor crimes. Intended for low level, first time offending, you can admit to the offence and agree to be cautioned. You can be arrested and charged if you do not want to accept the caution.

Question 15

Police sanctions: penalty notices

Answer 15

Penalty notices for disorder can be issued for minor crimes e.g. shoplifting. You will not get a conviction if you pay the penalty.