AC 1.1: compare criminal behaviour & deviance

Question 1

What is the social definition of crime?

Answer 1

a wrong against a community which means acts may be universally condemned

Question 2

What is the legal definition of crime?

Answer 2

Behaviour that breaks the law and for which offenders are punished by the legal system.

A case is usually brought on by the CPS on behalf of the states

Question 3

What is actus reus?

Answer 3

‘a guilty act”

Question 4

What is mens rea?

Answer 4

’ a guilty mind’

Question 5

What is deviance?

Answer 5

Any behaviour that violates current societal norms

Question 6

What did Emile Durkheim say about deviance?

Answer 6

That society’s ideas of deviance reflect the ‘collective consciousness’ of the community (a sense of right and wrong).

“What confers character …is not some intrinsic quality of a given act but the definition which the collective conscious lends it.

Question 7

What are norms?

Answer 7

Unwritten rules of social behaviour and violations often result in condemnation from others

Question 8

What is a moral code (mores)?

Answer 8

Morals about socially acceptable ways of behaving

Question 9

What are values?

Answer 9

Culturally-bound beliefs/understandings about how people should behave

Question 10

What are informal sanctions?

Answer 10

• Deviant behaviour can attract informal sanctions
• Informal mechanisms of social control are ways of criticising behaviour without critical punishment
• These aren’t imposed by the state but members of society (dirty looks etc.)

Question 11

What is a formal sanction?

Answer 11

The state punishes offenders to reinforce the value of criminal law to society. These are imposed by official bodies such as the police, local councils etc.

Question 12

What is a non-court sanction?

Answer 12

These are ‘out-of-court disposals’ which don’t go to court.

Question 13

What is the non-court sanction simple cautions?

Answer 13

Warnings given by the police or the CPS to anyone aged 10 years old or older

Question 14

What are the non-court sanction conditional cautions?

Answer 14

You have to stick to certain rules and restrictions. If you break any of these you are charged with a crime

Question 15

What are the non-court sanction penalty notices for disorder?

Answer 15

A penalty is being imposed however if it is not paid you won’t get charged but the penalty can increase.

Question 16

What are criminal court sanctions?

Answer 16

When a court imposes punishment and you will be prosecuted

Question 17

What are examples of criminal court sanctions?

Answer 17

• custody = prison
• community sentences = community service
• fines
• absolute/conditional discharge

Question 18

What is an absolute discharge?

Answer 18

When the court is released you are free to leave with no mark on your criminal record

Question 19

What is a conditional discharge?

Answer 19

The offender won’t be sentenced unless a further offence is committed within a stated period

Question 20

What types of crimes are considered fatal offences against the person?

Answer 20

• murder
• manslaughter

Question 21

What types of crimes are considered non-fatal offences against the person?

Answer 21

• common assault
• assault
• ABH & GBH

Question 22

What types of crimes are considered property offences?

Answer 22

• theft
  -burglary
• arson

Question 23

What types of crimes are considered sexual offences?

Answer 23

• rape
• sexual assault
• child abuse

Question 24

What types of crimes are considered public order offences?

Answer 24

• stalking
• indecent exposure
• drunk and disorderly

Question 25

What types of crimes are considered offences of strict reliability?

Answer 25

• selling alcohol to someone underage
• statatory rape