AC 1.1 - Compare Criminal Behaviour And Deviance Flashcards
What is a norm?
A norm is specific rules of expectations in society about what is or not socially acceptable behaviours.
• e.g waiting in a queue
What are values?
• Values refer to a shared and general set of principles about acceptable and unacceptable behaviours
• Values can change within different societies
• Being kind and respectful
What are moral codes?
• Moral codes are a set of basic rules, values and principles held by an individual, group, organisation or society as a whole.
• ‘A code of ethics’ these may be written down and explicit with the expectation that you will follow them
• Police code of ethics
What is deviance?
Deviance is any behaviour that differs from normal. If it behaviour that breaks social conventions and that is unusual, uncommon or out of the ordinary in some way.
What are the three types of deviance?
• Behaviour that is unusual and good
• Behaviour that is unusual and eccentric or bizarre
• Behaviour that is unusual and bad or disapproved of
What is an example of behaviour that is unusual and good?
Running into a burning building to save someone’s life
What is an example of behaviour that is unusual and eccentric or bizarre?
• A person owning 40 cats
• Someone talking to trees
What is an example of behaviour that is unusual and bad or disapproved of?
Physically attacking someone for no reason
Name one example of a police code of ethics?
- Accountability
- Integrity
- Openness
- Fairness
- Leadership
- Respect
- Honesty
- Objectivity
- Selflessness
What are sanctions?
Sanctions are punishments these can be formal or informal
What are formal sanctions?
Imposed by official bodies such as the police, courts, schools and other institutions
What are informal sanctions?
Used where the rules are not formally written down and are perhaps ‘unspoken’. When someone breaks these rules, others may ignore them or tell them off
What is the legal definition of criminal behaviour?
It refers to either criminal or civil law and is an international (sometimes unintentional) act in violation of the law
An action that is forbidden by the criminal law
What is the social definition of criminal behaviour?
Crimes are acts that break a set of Norms. Crimes as a concept is socially constructed and what is a crime for one person will differ to what another person considers to be a crime.
Not all harmful acts are criminal i.e anti pollution laws often specify how much of a pollutant a firm can legally emit
Many trivial and victimless acts are classed as a crime
For example, parking on double yellow lines
What are the exceptions to the legal definition of crime?
Strict liability and self defence
What is strict liability?
In some cases a mens rea is not required. For example health and safety laws. A factory owner who is negligent and fails to safeguard dangerous machinery is liable for the injuries to work as despite there was no intention to harm.
What is self defence?
If harming someone in self defence it is not a crime. So long as the force used was reasonable in the situation.
What are the two main types of offence?
Summary offences - these are less serious offences, such as speeding
Indictable offences - these are more serious offences, such as rape or murder
What is mens rea?
Meaning ‘ a guilty mind’ - the intention
What is actus reus?
Latin for ‘a guilty act’ - the action
What aspects do you follow when you’re understanding criminal behaviour by considering how it is defined socially?
Differing views
Law enforcement
Lawmaking
What are differing views?
- The public usually have different views to what is a crime
- For example, the following people may not see themselves as criminals: fare Dodgers, motorists going 31 and a 30 zone, uses of soft drugs, workers who take stationary home from the office
What is law enforcement?
- not all criminal laws are enforced; some not prioritised
- for example, white collar crimes are often complex, costly and time-consuming to investigate and prosecute
- Police may feel enforcing prosecution for possession of soft drugs will waste time
What is lawmaking?
- Not all acts that people think should be criminal become against the law
- Which actions get made illegal depends on who has the power to influence the lawmakers, such as the media, campaigning pressure groups or big businesses
- Sometimes laws are change to reflect changes in public opinions – some crimes will be decriminalised and some actions that were not criminal will be made criminal. For example, stalking did not become a specific offence until the protection of freedom’s act was passed in 2012
What are the formal sanctions against criminals?
Court sanctions
Police sanctions
What are the court sanctions?
Custodial sentences
community sentences
Fines
Discharge
What are custodial sentences?
This means going to prison or youth offenders this is for serious offences and the prison term relates to the offence itself
What are community sentences?
This is served in the community
This can include, community, curfews, drug testing, anger management course, etc
What are fines?
These are financial penalties, the size of the fine depends on the offense, whether it is a repeat and the offenders abilities to pay
What is discharge for criminals?
A conditional discharge involves the offender committing no further offence for a given period. If they commit an offence during this period, the court can impose a sentence for the original offence as well as for the new one.
What are the police sanctions?
Cautions
Conditional cautions
Penalty notice for disorder
What are cautions?
These are warnings that can be given out by police or crown prosecution. They are attended for low-level offending E.G graffiti. They can be given to anyone over the age of 10.
What are conditional cautions?
These mean you have to stick to certain rules E.G going into treatment for drug abuse. If you fail to do so or break conditions you can be charged with a crime
What is a penalty notice for disorder?
These can be used for minor crimes such as shoplifting. You won’t get a conviction if you pay the penalty. You can dispute this by going to trial.
What are the other implications of committing criminal act?
- exclusion from certain occupations E.G working with children
- They may be placed on the violent and sex offenders register
- They may be banned from travelling to certain areas or require a special Visa
- There may be restrictions on adoption, jewellery service, and standing or elected office
- May need to declare and spent convictions when obtaining an insurance
- Struggle to find a job
- A lot of hate from people and backlash
- Family and friends will look down on you
- You may be asked to live in a specific area/forced
- Likely to reoffend
