big picture concepts

Question 1

what is criminology

Answer 1

criminology is the scientific study of crime, criminal behavior, and the criminal justice system

Question 2

what is criminal justice

Answer 2

criminal justice refers to the system of practices and institutions used to uphold social control, deter and mitigate crime, and sanction those who violate laws

Question 3

what is deviance

Answer 3

deviance refers to behaviors or actions that violate societal norms; it can var by time, place, and context

Question 4

what is the different between male in se and male prohibit

Answer 4

mala in se is crimes that are inherently rape (ex: rape and murder), male prohibits is crimes that are wrong because they are prohibited by law (ex: drugs use and gambling)

Question 5

what is the UCR part 1 index offenses (violent and property)

Answer 5

violent: murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault

property: burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson)

Question 6

what are the key differences between UCR/NIBRS and NCVS

Answer 6

ucr/nibrs focuses on reported crime to law enforcement, offering more detail and the ncvs focuses on unreported crime through victim surveys

Question 7

what is the dark figure of crime

Answer 7

the crimes that go unreported or undiscovered, often making uo more then half of all crimes

Question 8

what is triangulation

Answer 8

the use of multiple methods or data sources to study the same phenomenon to increase reliability

Question 9

what is the hierarchy rule in the UCR

Answer 9

only the most serious offense in a multiple-offense incident was recorded

• NIBRS which replaces UCR in 2021, does not follow this rule

Question 10

what are the basic assumptions of the conflict vs. consensus views on crime

Answer 10

conflict = crime is a result of social inequality, with laws reflecting the interests of power

consensus = crime results from a breakdown of shared social norms or values

Question 11

what is DAT

Answer 11

suggests that people learn criminal behavior through interactions with others

• definitions favorable and unfavorable

Question 12

what is labeling theory

Answer 12

suggests that individuals identify themselves as criminals due to the labels society places on them

Question 13

what is anomie theory

Answer 13

suggests that crime results from a disconnection between societal goals and the means available to achieve them

• the American dream

Question 14

what is RAT

Answer 14

crime occurs when a motivated offender, a suitable target, and a lack of capable guardians coverage in time, place, and space

Question 15

what are the general patterns of crime over time

Answer 15

decline

Question 16

what are the big 5 correlates of crime

Answer 16

age, gender, socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, and prior criminal history

Question 17

how are crime patterns over time measured

Answer 17

crime patterns are measured using crime reports, victimization surveys, and self-report studies

Question 18

do crime measurement sources tell the same story

Answer 18

not always. different methods (UCR, NCVS) may show varying trends due to differences in reporting methodology

Question 19

how does socioeconomic status impact crime

Answer 19

lower SES is associated with a higher likelihood of both offending and victimization

Question 20

how do men and women differ in terms of crime

Answer 20

men are more likely to commit crime than women, and men and women experience victimization differently, often with women being victims of different crime types (ex: sexual assault)

Question 21

what are the general trend for property crime vs. violent crime

Answer 21

property crime is more common than violent crime. however, violent crime often receives more media attention, skewing public perception

Question 22

what are the most common index offenses

Answer 22

property = larceny - theft

violent = aggravated assault

Question 23

what is institutional anomie

Answer 23

suggests that economic institutions prioritize profit over morality, which promotes criminal behavior within economic systems