Characteristics Of Criminals

Question 1

Characteristics of criminal behaviour

Answer 1

Farr + Gibbons - crimes can be categorised into different groups for different types of criminals

Question 2

Acquisitive criminals

Answer 2

Fraud, burglary, tax evade

Property predatory crime - attempt or did take personal property of other without permission. (Robbery, burglary)

Transactional vice - ‘victimless’ offence with the willingness to trade illegal goods or services (prostitution, illegal drugs)

Characteristics - some may do it because of a personal motivations or under economical needs. Or seek pleasure or frill

Question 3

Sex offenders

Answer 3

Interpersonal violence sexual - act that threatens or harm others with sexual element. (Rape, sexual abuse)

Characteristics- engage in sexual contact with children or adolescents with force + without consent. Like inflicting pain or humiliation on other. Expose self in public

Question 4

Murderers + terroist

Answer 4

Interpersonal violence general - act that threat or harm others (murder, kidnap)

Murderers type 1 (disorganised asocial offender) characteristics-
Below average iq, socially inadequate, father that is unstable, drop outs, unskilled

Murderers type 2 (organised non social offender) characteristic -
Above average or high iq, socially adequate, high ability to control emotions + mood, harshly disciplined as kid

Terrorist characteristics-
Normal citizens acting from a place of perceived injustice or wronged, motivated politically or socially

Question 5

Uk legal definition of crime

Answer 5

Blackburn

For a act to be crime it must have:
-actus reus (guilty act) murder, theft
-mens rea (guilty mind) voluntary intentions for the act

Question 6

Limitations

Answer 6

-if not aware of committing crime, can be argued no mens rea
-if someone has mental condition that makes them not aware of action or know guilty, can plead not guilty by reason of insanity, can undermine legal conception of being liable for crime

Question 7

How to collect data of crime

Answer 7

British Crime survey - interviews 50,000 household to collect people experience of crime, ever been victim, crimes committed - help collect crime not reported to police