booklet 1 Flashcards
social definition
- sometimes crime is a ‘label’ or something someone has done wrong against the community
- if society says an act is a crime is usually becomes one e.g. forced marriages are illegal in some societies but not in others
what is the legal definition of crime?
in society, the legal system defines a crime. for example, behaviour that breaks the law and for which you are punished by the law.
- a crime must have an actus rea and mens rea
- e.g. fraud, theft and murder
what is a formal sanction?
sanctions imposed by legal bodies such as the police, courts, schools
- they are punishments for breaking formal written rules or laws
what is an informal sanction?
- where the rules arent formally written down and are unspoken
- when someone breaks these rules, others show their disapproval in informal ways e.g. telling them off
non-court sanctions
- cautions, conditional cautions, penalty notices
what is a caution?
administered by the police for minor crimes such as graffiti on the walls
- you have to admit an offence and agree to be cautioned
what is a conditional caution?
- given by the police but you have to agree to certain rules and restrictions e.g. receiving drug treatment
what is a penalty notice?
- for disorders for offences such as shoplifting, possessing cannabis, or being drunk and disorderly in public
- if aged 18 or over
what are court sanctions?
- custodial sentences
- community sentences
- fines
- discharge
what is a custodial sentence?
- when you are immediately sent to prison, mandatory and discretionary life sentences, fixed term
what is a community sentence?
- combination including unpaid work, probation, curfew and orders such as having drug testing
what are fines?
- financial penalties, amount depends on the seriousness of the offence and financial circumstances of the offender
what is discharge?
- either conditional (when offender re offends during a set time period) or absolute, defendant is technically morally blameless
what are summary offences?
- less serious offences such as speeding, often tried in magistrates court
what are indictable offences?
- serious offences such as rape, murder, often tried in crown court
what are the variety of criminal acts?
- violence against the person e.g. murder
- sexual offences e.g. rape
- offences against property e.g. theft
- fraud and forgery
- criminal damage
- drug offences e.g. supplying heroin
- public order offences e.g. riot
what is deviant behaviour?
- behaviour that goes against the social norms of a specific group e.g. keeping 40 cats
- deviance can range from minor to major e.g. murder
- vary from one culture to another
what are the forms of deivance?
- admired behaviour e.g. deviant but considered good e.g. saving a life
- odd behaviour - e.g. having 40 cats
- bad behaviour - deviant becuase its bad e.g. assaulting a pensioner
laws that change culture to culture
- polygamy
- cannabis
- adultery
- homosexuality
laws that change over time
- homosexuality
- drug laws
- capital punishment
- gun control
- how does polygamy vary between cultures?
- religion : qur’an permits Muslim men to take up to four wives, reflected in laws of most Muslim-majority countries
- in the USA, Mormon church practised polygamy until 1890
what is formal policy making?
linked to official ideas to prevent crime such as prison sentences or community orders
what is informal policy making?
linked to non-official ideas to prevent crime e.g. family rules such as grounding or withholding of pocket money
