Compare criminal behaviour Flashcards
Norms
Specific rules or socially acceptable standards that control people’s behaviour in different situations.
Values
General principles for how we should live our lives.
Moral codes
Used to describe a set of basic rules held by an individual or group. These have to be written down.
Deviance
Any behaviour that differs from normal in societies eyes.
Formal sanction
Sanctions imposed by official bodies and are punishments for breaking witten rules or law.
Informal sanction
When rules are not written down possibly unspoken. Usually resulting in disapproval from others.
Positive sanctions
Rewards for behaviour that society approves of.
Social control
All sanctions are forms of social control; such as controlling our behaviour and conform.
Legal definition of crime
For an action to be a crime it must have actus reus (guilty act) and mens rea (guilty mind). There are two exceptions; strict liability and self-defence.
Social definition of crime
Not all harmful acts are crimes and not all crimes are harmful. The public have different views on what they consider a crime. Not all criminal laws are enforcement by the police. Not all “crimes” have a law written for them.
Seriousness of the offence
Two types; summary offences (less serious offences) and indictable offences (more serious offences).
Main categories; violence against the person, sexual offences, offences against property, fraud and forgery, criminal damage, drug offences and public order offences.
Court sanctions
Custodial sentences = serious offences, length of sentence can vary.
Community sentences = served in the community not jail. Fines and discharge (offender committing no further crimes for a set period) can be used.
Police sanctions = minor offences, no need to go court. Cautions (warnings given by police to anyone over 10), conditional cautions (stick to certain rules and restriction) and penalty notices for disorder (issued for minor crimes).
