Crime and Deviance

Question 1

Crime

Answer 1

An illegal act punishable by law.

Question 2

Deviance

Answer 2

Behaviour that does not conform with society’s norms and values

Question 3

Law

Answer 3

Law is a set of rules created by a governing authority, like a government, to regulate behaviour within a society.

It’s designed to maintain order, resolve disputes, and protect the rights of individuals and communities.

Question 4

Agencies of Social Control

Answer 4

This includes the police, schools, courts, and even families and peer groups. These agencies use various methods, like laws, punishments, and social norms, to encourage people to follow the rules and discourage deviant behaviour.

Question 5

Agencies of Formal Social Control

Answer 5

Institutions or organisations sanctioned by the government or other authoritative bodies to enforce societal norms and laws.

These agencies include law enforcement agencies such as the police, judiciary systems like courts, and correctional institutions such as prisons.

They play a crucial role in maintaining order and ensuring compliance with legal and social standards.

Question 6

Agencies of Informal Social Control

Answer 6

Agencies of informal social control are less formalised mechanisms within society that influence individuals to conform to societal norms and values.

These agencies include family, peer groups, schools, religious institutions, and the media.

They shape behaviour through socialisation, informal sanctions like praise or ridicule, and by setting examples of acceptable conduct.

Question 7

Probation Service

Answer 7

Its main role is to monitor the behaviour of offenders in the community, provide guidance and support to help them reintegrate into society, and reduce the risk of reoffending.

Probation officers work with offenders to develop and implement rehabilitation plans, which may include counseling, education, and job training. The goal of the Probation Service is to promote accountability, facilitate positive behavioural change, and enhance public safety.

Question 8

Legislature

Answer 8

The legislature is a branch of government responsible for making laws. It’s typically composed of elected representatives who debate, propose, amend, and enact legislation.

The legislature plays a fundamental role in the democratic process by representing the interests of the people, creating laws that reflect societal values, and providing oversight of governmental actions.

Question 9

Judiciary

Answer 9

The judiciary might include court clerks, who help keep everything organised. Court officers, who make sure everyone behaves properly in court and of course, judges. There are also lawyers who present cases and argue on behalf of their clients. All of these people work together to make sure the legal system runs smoothly and fairly.

Question 10

Court of Appeal

Answer 10

If someone thinks a judge made a mistake or didn’t follow the rules correctly in a court case, they can ask the Court of Appeal to take another look. The Court of Appeal listens to both sides, thinks really hard and decides if the court case needs to be reviewed again or if everything is okay.

Question 11

Supreme Court

Answer 11

The highest court in the UK, it hears cases of the greatest public or constitutional importance and cases involving points of law of general public importance. It also hears appeals from lower courts in civil cases.

Question 12

High Court

Answer 12

This is like the big-deal court. It handles important problems, like when there’s a big argument between people or companies and they can’t agree. The High Court helps sort out these big disputes. It also deals with serious crimes and appeals from lower courts.

Question 13

Crown Court

Answer 13

Deals with serious criminal cases, including murder, rape, and robbery. It can also hear appeals from Magistrates’ Courts.

Question 14

Magistrates’ Court

Answer 14

Magistrates often handle less serious criminal cases, civil matters, and administrative issues. Their roles may include conducting preliminary hearings, issuing warrants, setting bail, and adjudicating minor offences.

Question 15

Indictable Offences

Answer 15

Serious criminal offences that are typically heard in a higher court, such as a crown court in the UK.

These crimes carry heavier penalties, including longer prison sentences, and often involve more complex legal proceedings. Indictable offences may include crimes such as murder, rape, robbery, and serious fraud.

In many legal systems, the decision to charge someone with an indictable offence is made after a preliminary hearing, and the accused may have the option to request a trial by jury.

Question 16

Summary Offences

Answer 16

These are less serious criminal offences that are typically heard and decided summarily, meaning without a jury, in a lower court such as a magistrate’s court.

Summary offences usually carry lesser penalties compared to indictable offences and may include offences such as petty theft, disorderly conduct, minor traffic violations, and certain types of assault.

Question 17

Right of Appeal

Answer 17

The right of appeal is like having a do-over when you feel something wasn’t fair. In legal terms, it means if you disagree with a court’s decision or think there was a mistake, you can ask a higher court to review the case. This higher court will look at everything again to see if the decision was correct or if there was an error. It’s a way to make sure everyone gets a fair chance in the legal process.

Question 18

Social Order

Answer 18

Social order is like the invisible glue that holds society together. It’s when everyone follows the rules, respects each other, and knows their place in the community. It’s what keeps things running smoothly, like people waiting in line, following traffic laws, and treating each other with kindness. When there’s social order, everyone feels safe and knows what to expect from each other.

Question 19

Social Control

Answer 19

Social control can come from things like laws, norms, peer pressure, or even just knowing what’s considered acceptable in a community. It helps maintain order and harmony by encouraging people to follow the rules and norms of society.

Question 20

Anomie

Answer 20

Merton says that this strain between societal expectations for success and the available means to achieve it can lead to deviant adaptations, such as crime or innovation.

Anomie refers to a state of normlessness or a breakdown of social norms and values in society.

Anomie can lead to feelings of confusion, insecurity, and a lack of direction in individuals, as well as social instability and disorganisation in communities.

Question 21

Structural Theory

Answer 21

It focuses on understanding how social institutions like family, education, and the economy shape people’s lives and experiences.

Structural theorists explore how factors such as social class, gender, and ethnicity impact individuals within society. This perspective helps explain patterns of behaviour and inequalities by examining the broader structural forces at play.

Question 22

Control Theory

Answer 22

It suggests that people are motivated to follow these norms because of the social bonds and attachments they have with others. These bonds, such as family, friends, and community, act as “controls” that regulate behaviour by providing incentives to conform and punishments for deviance.

Control theory emphasises the importance of social relationships and connections in influencing individual behaviour and preventing delinquency or deviance.

Question 23

Double Deviance Thesis

Answer 23

The double deviance thesis says that when women break the law, they’re seen as breaking two sets of rules: the rules of society and the rules of being a woman. This means they often face extra judgment and punishment compared to men who do the same thing.

Question 24

Chivalry Thesis

Answer 24

The chivalry thesis says that the justice system tends to be nicer to women than to men. It suggests that women often get lighter punishments or more sympathy from police and courts because society sees them as weaker or less responsible.

Question 25

Deviant Careers

Answer 25

Deviant careers are like the journey someone takes when they keep doing bad things. It involves different steps, like starting to break rules, getting more involved in bad behaviour, and dealing with the consequences, like getting in trouble with the law.

Question 26

Master Status

Answer 26

A master status is like the most noticeable thing about you that people focus on. It’s often based on something big in your life, like your job or a disability, and it affects how others see you.

Question 27

Criminal Justice Systen (CJS)

Answer 27

The Criminal Justice System (CJS) is like a big machine that deals with crime. It includes police, courts, and prisons, all working together to catch criminals, give them fair trials, and decide on punishments if they’re found guilty.

The CJS also aims to help victims and prevent future crimes by rehabilitating offenders. It’s like a big system of rules and processes designed to keep society safe and fair.

Question 28

Official Crime Statistics

Answer 28

Official crime statistics are like numbers that the government collects to show how much crime is happening and what kinds of crimes are common.

They help the government understand what’s going on with crime and decide how to stop it.

Question 29

White-Collar Crime

Answer 29

White-collar crime is when people in jobs like business or government break the law to get money or power. They might cheat, lie, or steal in ways that are more sneaky and less obvious than crimes like robbery or assault.

Question 30

Corporate Crime

Answer 30

This can include things like fraud, pollution, or unsafe working conditions. Corporate crime can harm not just individuals, but also communities and the environment.

Question 31

Recorded Crime

Answer 31

Recorded crime is like the official list of bad things that happen. It’s when the police or other authorities keep track of crimes that have been reported to them. This includes things like theft, assault, or vandalism. By recording crimes, authorities can understand what’s happening in a community and try to prevent more crime from happening.

Question 32

Reported Crime

Answer 32

Reported crime is like when someone tells the police or other authorities about something bad that happened to them. It’s when people report crimes like theft, assault, or vandalism to the authorities so they can investigate and take action. Reported crimes are the ones that are officially documented and recorded by law enforcement agencies.

Question 33

Dark Figure of Crime

Answer 33

The dark figure of crime is like the hidden part of an iceberg. It’s the crimes that go unreported or undetected, so they don’t show up in official crime statistics. These are the crimes that people don’t tell the police about, either because they’re afraid, ashamed, or don’t think it’s worth reporting.

The dark figure of crime is important to understand because it shows that official crime statistics only capture part of the picture, and there may be more crime happening than we realise.

Question 34

Crime Rate

Answer 34

The crime rate is like a measure of how much crime is happening in a certain place or time.

It’s usually calculated by looking at the number of reported crimes per population size, often expressed as a rate per 1,000 or 100,000 people. The crime rate helps us understand how safe or unsafe an area is and how crime trends change over time.

It’s an important tool for policymakers, law enforcement, and communities to track and address crime issues.

Question 35

Victim Surveys

Answer 35

Victim surveys are like asking people about their experiences with crime. Instead of relying only on reported crimes, these surveys directly ask people if they’ve been victims of crime, regardless of whether they reported it to the police.

By gathering information from victims themselves, these surveys can provide a more comprehensive picture of crime rates and patterns, including crimes that may not have been reported to the authorities.

Question 36

Self-Report Studies

Answer 36

Self-report studies are like asking people about their own behaviour. Instead of relying on official records or reports, researchers directly ask individuals about their experiences, actions, or involvement in certain activities, including criminal behaviour.

These studies often use anonymous questionnaires or interviews to gather information about behaviours that may not be reported to authorities, providing insights into the extent and nature of crime from the perspective of the individuals involved.

Question 37

Status Frustration

Answer 37

Status frustration is like feeling upset or frustrated because you can’t reach a certain social status that society values. It’s often experienced by young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds who feel like they can’t achieve success or respect in traditional ways, such as through school or work.

This frustration can lead to deviant behaviour as individuals seek alternative ways to gain status or recognition within their peer group or community.

Question 38

Class Deal

Answer 38

The class deal is like an agreement between different social classes. It’s about what each group is expected to do.

For working-class people, it usually means working hard for wages to support themselves and their families, hoping for fair treatment in return.

Question 39

Gender Deal

Answer 39

The gender deal is like society’s unspoken rules about what men and women should do. If you follow these rules, you might feel accepted and appreciated. But if you don’t, you might feel judged or left out.

Question 40

Folk Devil

Answer 40

A folk devil is someone or a group of people who are blamed and feared by society for causing problems or threatening the values of the community. They’re often portrayed negatively in the media and seen as a symbol of moral panic.

This concept was introduced by sociologist Stanley Cohen to describe how certain groups, like youth subcultures or marginalised communities, are demonised and scapegoated during times of social anxiety or unrest.

Question 41

Deviancy Amplification

Answer 41

Deviancy amplification is when the response to a problem makes it seem bigger or worse than it really is. It’s like if people keep talking about something bad happening, more people might start to believe it’s happening a lot, even if it’s not.

This can make the problem seem bigger and cause more people to act in the same way, even if they wouldn’t have otherwise.

Question 42

Media Amplification

Answer 42

Media amplification is like when the media makes a problem seem bigger or more important than it really is. It’s when the news or social media talks a lot about something bad happening, which can make people think it’s a much bigger issue than it actually is. This can cause more fear and concern among the public, and sometimes even lead to more of the problem happening as a result.

Question 43

Agenda Setting

Answer 43

Agenda setting is like deciding what’s important to talk about. It’s when the media or other influential groups focus on certain topics or issues, which can then influence what people think about and talk about.

For example, if the news talks a lot about climate change, people might start to see it as a big issue that needs attention. So, agenda setting shapes public opinion and can influence what issues get attention from policymakers and the public.

Question 44

Gatekeepers

Answer 44

Gatekeepers are like the bouncers of information. They decide what news and ideas get shared with the public. They control what stories are important enough to be covered and how they’re presented.

Question 45

News Values

Answer 45

News values are what make a story interesting to reporters. They decide what’s worth talking about in the news, like if it’s something different, important, or close by.

Question 46

Supreme vs High vs Crown Court

Answer 46

Supreme Court: Think of it as the “Super-duper Court.” It’s the highest court in the land. They handle the biggest, most important problems and questions about the rules.

High Court: This is like the “Pretty Important Court.” They deal with important problems too, but not as big as the Supreme Court. They handle things like big arguments between people or companies.

Crown Court: This is the “Serious Business Court.” They deal with really serious problems, like when someone breaks a law and needs to be told what’s going to happen next. They make sure everything is fair, just like referees in a very important game. Rape and murder cases happen here.

Question 47

Legislature vs Judiciary

Answer 47

Legislature: Think of the legislature as the rule-makers. They’re like a big group of people who create the rules, or laws, that everyone in the country has to follow. This group is usually made up of elected representatives who listen to the needs of the people and make decisions about what should be allowed or not allowed.

Judiciary: Now, the judiciary is like the rule-followers. They’re the ones who make sure everyone sticks to the rules created by the legislature. Judges and courts are part of the judiciary. They listen to arguments, examine evidence, and decide if someone has broken the law or if they’re being treated fairly. Their job is to make sure the rules are applied correctly and that justice is served.

Question 48

Criminal vs Civil Cases

Answer 48

Criminal: Criminal things are when someone breaks the big rules (laws) that everyone has to follow. It’s like when someone does something really not okay, like stealing, hurting someone, or breaking into a house. The police and courts get involved to figure out what happened and decide if the person should be punished.

Civil: Civil things are more about arguments or disagreements between people or companies. It’s like when someone owes money to another person and they can’t agree on what to do about it. Instead of punishment like in criminal cases, civil cases are about solving problems and making things fair again.