Chapter 1: Crime, Criminals & Criminology Flashcards
Definition of Criminology
The body of knowledge regarding crime as a social phenomenon. Includes processes of making laws, breaking laws & reaction to the breaking of laws.
6 major areas of Criminology
1) Definition of crime and criminals
2) Origins & role of law
3) Social distribution of crime
4) Causation of crime
5) Patterns of criminal behavior
6) Societal reactions to crime
Definition of Norms
established rules of behavior or standards of conduct
Legal Definition of crime
an act that violates the criminal law and is punishable
Definition of White Collar Crime
crime committed by middle/upper class individuals in the course of their legitimate business activities
Continuum of crime and deviance (how serious it is)
1) Degree of consensus that an act is wrong
2) Severity of society’s response to the act
3) Assessment of the degree of harm of the act
4 varieties of deviance
Consensus crimes, conflict crimes, social deviations, social diversions
Consensus theory of law (structural functionalism)
laws represent an agreement of most of the people in a society that certain acts should be prohibited by the law (focused on values)
Class conflict theory of law
laws passed by members of ruling class to maintain a privileged position by keeping common people under control
Green Criminology
studying actions that are socially harmful. Roots in environmental and animal rights movements. Grounded in ecological citizenships (rights should be extended to non-humans)
Terrorism studies
began with the 9/11 attacks and examines both the actual definition as well as social definition of terrorism
Definition of Terrorism
Illegitimate use of force to achieve a political objective by targeting innocent people
Surveillance Studies
commercialization of data, consequences of surveillance, privacy rights
Surveillance definition
any systematic focus on personal info in order to influence, manage, entitle, or control those whose info is collected
