Chapter 3: Defining and Measuring Crime Flashcards
Violent Offenses
Criminal acts against another person
Public’s fear about crime/victimization
Less common
Violent Offenses Type
Murder, Sexual Assault, Assault, Robbery
Murder
Killing someone: least common, most serious penalty, and can be punishable by death
First degree, second degree, voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter
Sexual Assault
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)
Assault
The physical harm (or threat of physical harm) of a vicitm
Assault: the most common form of violent crime
Assault (categories)
Simple assault: does not involve use of a weapon/minor, if any, injuries
Aggravated assault: may involve serious injury/use of a weapon
Robbery
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
Property Offenses
Property Crimes (Burglary, Larceny, Vandalism and Arson)
Property Crimes
Most common criminal offense; involves taking/damaging of physical goods
Burglary
Entering a building/other physical space (residence, business, car) w/intent of taking property w/o permission
Larceny
The taking of property w/o the use of force
Vandalism
Destruction/damage of a physical structure or building
Arson
Destruction of a physical structure or item by fire
Status Offenses
Illegal acts for only certain groups of offenders; most commonly found within juveniles
Eg., Truancy, underage drinking, running away from home
Victimless Crimes
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
Drug Use
Use of illicit substances
Prostitution
Exchange of sexual favors for money or other resources
Gambling
Wagering money or other valuable goods with hope to increase one’s financial status
White-Collar Offenses
Traditionally occur within the corporate and related fields
Eg., Fraud, Embezzlement, Corruption, Insider Trading, Malpractice, Misconduct, Tech-based offenses, Extortion, Bribery, and Deception
White-Collar Offenses (definition)
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
Crime Against the Government
Punishable under Federal Law
Eg., Treason, Espionage, and Terrorism
Treason
Acts that attempt to overthrow the govt.
Espionage
When an individual or govt. obtains secret/confidential info
Terrorism
Acts of violence w/goal of instilling fear in the people
Uniform Crime Report
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
Uniform Crime Reports (UCR)
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
