Chapter 3: Defining and Measuring Crime

Question 1

Violent Offenses

Answer 1

Criminal acts against another person

Public’s fear about crime/victimization

Less common

Question 2

Violent Offenses Type

Answer 2

Murder, Sexual Assault, Assault, Robbery

Question 3

Murder

Answer 3

Killing someone: least common, most serious penalty, and can be punishable by death

First degree, second degree, voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter

Question 4

Sexual Assault

Answer 4

Sexual activity w/o consent (ex. genial fondling, force oral copulation, sodomy, penetration by a foreign object)

Rape (unwanted penile-vaginal sexual conduct/penetration); unable to consent due to intoxication/disability

Enhance penalties and laws may distinguish by age of victim

Statutory rape (legally unable to consent to sexual activity b/c of age)

Question 5

Assault

Answer 5

The physical harm (or threat of physical harm) of a vicitm

Assault: the most common form of violent crime

Question 6

Assault (categories)

Answer 6

Simple assault: does not involve use of a weapon/minor, if any, injuries

Aggravated assault: may involve serious injury/use of a weapon

Question 7

Robbery

Answer 7

Taking of personal property through use of force/fear and occurs face to face w/vicitim–not to be confused w/burglary

Eg., carjacking, purse snatching

Question 8

Property Offenses

Answer 8

Property Crimes (Burglary, Larceny, Vandalism and Arson)

Question 9

Property Crimes

Answer 9

Most common criminal offense; involves taking/damaging of physical goods

Question 10

Burglary

Answer 10

Entering a building/other physical space (residence, business, car) w/intent of taking property w/o permission

Question 11

Larceny

Answer 11

The taking of property w/o the use of force

Question 12

Vandalism

Answer 12

Destruction/damage of a physical structure or building

Question 13

Arson

Answer 13

Destruction of a physical structure or item by fire

Question 14

Status Offenses

Answer 14

Illegal acts for only certain groups of offenders; most commonly found within juveniles

Eg., Truancy, underage drinking, running away from home

Question 15

Victimless Crimes

Answer 15

Illegal under law, that does not involve victims in a traditional sense; but acts that are only harmful to themselves or consensual

Eg., Drug use, Prostitution, Gambling

Question 16

Drug Use

Answer 16

Use of illicit substances

Question 17

Prostitution

Answer 17

Exchange of sexual favors for money or other resources

Question 18

Gambling

Answer 18

Wagering money or other valuable goods with hope to increase one’s financial status

Question 19

White-Collar Offenses

Answer 19

Traditionally occur within the corporate and related fields

Eg., Fraud, Embezzlement, Corruption, Insider Trading, Malpractice, Misconduct, Tech-based offenses, Extortion, Bribery, and Deception

Question 20

White-Collar Offenses (definition)

Answer 20

Involves significant amounts of money; offenders tend to be adults from middle-to-upper class; often involve large-scale corporate organizations

Eg., Enron energy scandal

Question 21

Crime Against the Government

Answer 21

Punishable under Federal Law

Eg., Treason, Espionage, and Terrorism

Question 22

Treason

Answer 22

Acts that attempt to overthrow the govt.

Question 23

Espionage

Answer 23

When an individual or govt. obtains secret/confidential info

Question 24

Terrorism

Answer 24

Acts of violence w/goal of instilling fear in the people

Question 25

Uniform Crime Report

Answer 25

How information is gathered

No one data set tell us everything

Data sets vary

Data sets represent a picture of crime for a specific: population, region, time frame, and state of the criminal justice system

Question 26

Uniform Crime Reports (UCR)

Answer 26

One of the largest data sets on crime in US

FBI has collected and published data from the police agencies in the US since 1930

Rates/volumes of crime by offense type, based on arrest made by police

General understanding of crime in the US