AC 1.1 Compare criminal behaviour and deviance

Question 1

What is an actus reus?

Answer 1

The guilty act

Question 2

What is a mens rea

Answer 2

The guilty mind

Question 3

What is the social definition of crime?

Answer 3

A social definition of the word is difficult to find as it can vary. For example, in our society crimes such as sexual offences would be disapproved of. Also, most people in the UK would think it is wrong to have sex with a 14 year old. However, forced marriages exist in some countries such as Bangladesh

Question 4

What is the legal definition of crime?

Answer 4

A legal definition of crime can be difficult to find as it can vary. In our society it is the legal system that defines crime. For example, behaviour that breaks the law would be punished by the legal system. In law a crime must have two elements: an actus reus and a mens rea

Question 5

What is a caution (non court sanction)

Answer 5

Given by the police for minor crimes such as writing grafiti on a bus shelter. You have to agree to the offence and agree to be cautioned; otherwise you may be arrested. A caution is not a criminal offence

Question 6

What is a conditional caution (non court sanction)

Answer 6

Given by the police but you have to agree to certain rules and restrictions, such as agreeing to receive treatment for drug abuse or repairing damage to a property etc

Question 7

What is a penalty notice (non court sanction)

Answer 7

Given for offences such as shoplifting, possessing cannabis or being drunk and disorderly in public. You .can only get a penalty notice of you are aged 18 or over.

Question 8

What is a custodial sentence (court sanction)

Answer 8

Where you are immediately sent to prison. These are mandatory and discretionary life sentences and fixed term and indeterminate prison sentences.

Question 9

What is a community sentence (court sanction)

Answer 9

Can be a combination order including unpaid work, probation, curfew and orders such as having drug testing and treatment

Question 10

What is a fine (court sanction)

Answer 10

Financial penalties, the amount depends on the seriousness of the offence and the financial circumstances of the offender

Question 11

What is discharge (court sanction)

Answer 11

Can be either conditional, when if the defendant reoffends during a set time period the court can give ab alternative sentence, or absolute, when no penalty is imposed as the defendant is technically guilty but morally blameless

Question 12

What is a combination order

Answer 12

A sentence of the court that contains a probation order and a community service order

Question 13

What is an example of a fatal offence against the person?

Answer 13

Murder, manslaughter

Question 14

What id an example of a non-fatal offence against the person?

Answer 14

Assault, battery, actual and grievous bodily harm

Question 15

What is deviance?

Answer 15

Behaviour that goes against the dominant social norms of a specific group or society

Question 16

What are norms?

Answer 16

Social expectations that guide behaviour and explain why people act the way that they do. Norms keep ion check deviant behaviour because it is expected behaviour. However norms can vary from one culture to another. For example, in the UK you are expected to wear black at a funeral but in China the colour of mourning is white

Question 17

What are moral codes?

Answer 17

Moral codes are morals or good ways of behaving. Breaking a moral code code would genuinely be serious in society, an example would be murder.

Question 18

What are values?

Answer 18

Rules shared by most people in a given culture. It is what people feel should happen. They are more general gidelines than norms. For example, most people feel that we should respect the elderly

Question 19

What is admired behaviour (form of deviance)

Answer 19

Deviant but considered good or admirable. for example, saving someones life while putting your own at risk, considered deviant as most people would not do so

Question 20

What is odd behaviour (form of deviance)

Answer 20

Deviant by being odd or different from what is considered the norm. For example, living with an excessive amount of cats

Question 21

What is bad behaviour (form of deviance)

Answer 21

Deviant because it is bad. For example, assaulting a pensioner