Crime And Crime Statistics

Question 1

What are the 4 sources of crime statistics?

Answer 1

1) police record crime
2) victim surveys
3) self report studies
4) court and prison records

Question 2

What is the peak age for offending?

Answer 2

15-18

Question 3

How many males have a conviction by their 40th birthday?

Answer 3

1 in 3 men

Question 4

How many women have a conviction by their 40th birthday?

Answer 4

1 in 10 women

Question 5

How much has crime committed by women gone up between 2004 or 2007?

Answer 5

25%

Question 6

For what crime are African Caribbean people arrested for over white people?

Answer 6

Robbery

Question 7

What does Neo-Marxist mean?

Answer 7

Resistance to authority and response to police oppression

Question 8

What is the definition of crime?

Answer 8

An offence against an individual or the state which is punishable by law

Question 9

What does actus reus mean?

Answer 9

The physical element of the crime

Question 10

What does mens rea mean?

Answer 10

The mental element of the crime

Question 11

Why do the police record instances of stop and search?

Answer 11

To ensure that people aren’t discriminated against

Question 12

How many stop and search procedures result in arrest?

Answer 12

1 in 10

Question 13

What is the main statute dealing with police powers?

Answer 13

Police and criminal evidence act of 1984

Question 14

What powers do the police need? (6)

Answer 14

Stop and search
Search premises
Arrest
Detention 
Interview 
Search at the police station

Question 15

What happened in the Stephen Lawrence case?

Answer 15

He was stabbed in the street for being black

Question 16

Why were the police criticised for the Stephen Lawrence case?

Answer 16

Because they did not try hard enough to find the criminals then presented false, insufficient evidence

Question 17

What does institutional racism mean?

Answer 17

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

Question 18

What are the 3 critical stages in the criminalisation process?

Answer 18

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

Question 19

What is Devlin’s view?

Answer 19

Society’s “moral fabric”. Criminal law must be respected and reinforced in order to maintain a social order

Question 20

What is Hart’s view?

Answer 20

Morality shouldn’t prevent people doing what they want. Society changes so morals change with that

Question 21

What factors affect crime rates?

Answer 21

Income, location, living standards, upbringing, morals/ethics, type of victim