Crime And Crime Statistics Flashcards
What are the 4 sources of crime statistics?
1) police record crime
2) victim surveys
3) self report studies
4) court and prison records
What is the peak age for offending?
15-18
How many males have a conviction by their 40th birthday?
1 in 3 men
How many women have a conviction by their 40th birthday?
1 in 10 women
How much has crime committed by women gone up between 2004 or 2007?
25%
For what crime are African Caribbean people arrested for over white people?
Robbery
What does Neo-Marxist mean?
Resistance to authority and response to police oppression
What is the definition of crime?
An offence against an individual or the state which is punishable by law
What does actus reus mean?
The physical element of the crime
What does mens rea mean?
The mental element of the crime
Why do the police record instances of stop and search?
To ensure that people aren’t discriminated against
How many stop and search procedures result in arrest?
1 in 10
What is the main statute dealing with police powers?
Police and criminal evidence act of 1984
What powers do the police need? (6)
Stop and search Search premises Arrest Detention Interview Search at the police station
What happened in the Stephen Lawrence case?
He was stabbed in the street for being black
Why were the police criticised for the Stephen Lawrence case?
Because they did not try hard enough to find the criminals then presented false, insufficient evidence
What does institutional racism mean?
A pattern of social institutions - such as governmental organisations, schools, banks and courts of law - giving negative treatment to a group of people based on their race
What are the 3 critical stages in the criminalisation process?
1) determination is made as to what makes a criminal
2) grading the crime and finding where the offence fits in the scheme
3) criminal law applied in individual cases
What is Devlin’s view?
Society’s “moral fabric”. Criminal law must be respected and reinforced in order to maintain a social order
What is Hart’s view?
Morality shouldn’t prevent people doing what they want. Society changes so morals change with that
What factors affect crime rates?
Income, location, living standards, upbringing, morals/ethics, type of victim
