crime and he law Flashcards
TYPE OF CRIME
Crimes of violence
Explanation - These crimes involve the serious harm and injury or death of a person
Examples - Assault, robbery, attempted murder, murder…
Consequences - Serious trauma is caused to the victim/victim’s family and others.
Crimes of dishonesty
Explanation - Those who carry out these crimes act in a dishonest manner in order to gain something from the victim.
Examples -Housebreaking, theft, shoplifting, fraud…
Consequences -Victims usually lose property and money and feel as thou their dignity has been violated.
Fire Raising and Vandalism
These types of attacks cause destruction and damage and put people at risk.
Graffiti, Arson attacks…
Environments and Buildings are heavily damaged or destroyed and often, the lives of people are endangered.
Sexual Offences
These crimes involve the physical and emotional harm of a person (no matter what age) in a sexual manner.
Rape, Sexual Assault, Sexual Abuse
Effects are physical, emotional, and psychological and cause immense pain and suffering for the victim and their family.
Drug Offences and Other Crimes
Depending on the exact crime, these offenses have various causes and effects.
Buying or selling drugs, carrying an offensive weapon…
Health issues, illegally obtained money, death and the demands placed on public services are all consequences of these crimes.
REASONS FOR CRIME
Biological
Born Evil- Some would argue that individuals can naturally be ‘born evil’ and that physiologically are different from other individuals. This can be applied to certain types of criminals particularly those who commit violent offenses.
For example, they would argue that criminals have no control over it.
Mental Health issues- Some people have mental health issues that cause them to make irrational decisions and have trouble distinguishing between right and wrong.
For example, 90% of all prisoners had a mental health problem and 70% had two or more problems
Socio-economic Reason
Poverty- Typically the types of crime we associate with poverty are related to basic needs – shoplifting food and baby items; stealing money; using and selling drugs for money. For example, Glasgow and Renfrewshire - experience far higher levels of crime than other areas.
Social Exclusion- ‘Underclass’ - people who may be unemployed, have few qualifications, live in poor housing, and rely on benefits to get by,
feel excluded from society. For example not having a mobile phone.
To solve their problems they turn to crime to pay for a lifestyle they believe can never be achieved by legal means.
Economic Reason
Unemployment- When someone does not have enough money to survive they can be forced into crime to provide for their families.
In 2017/18, there was a near 10% increase in the number of shoplifting incidents in Scotland – most of these linked to foodstuffs and baby items.
Sociological Reasons
Poor Role Models- In some deprived communities, the role models are not hard-working people earning a good income but criminals and gang members. In areas with high crime rates, there may be so much crime that it is seen as normal to break the law.
Alcohol and Drugs- Crimes such as assault, violence, petty crime, and breach of the peace are fuelled by alcohol and drugs in Scotland as they impair judgment and encourage people to make decisions they wouldn’t usually. 46% of violent crime is alcohol-related.
Peer Pressure- If a person doesn’t conform to the values of their peer group then they can face ridicule, threats, or exclusion from the group.
Boredom and peer group pressure can prove to be a powerful combination and lead to people to committing crimes.
IMPACT OF CRIME
on the perpetrator
Social impact:
Can affect their relationships with friends and family, this is particularly the case in white collar crimes where the criminal is shunned by friends, family and colleagues. Also this causes the perpetrator to lose daily contact with their families.
Financial Impact:
People who are convicted of a crime will have a criminal record and will find it very difficult to get a job. Particularly in time of recession where jobs are in high demand.
on communities
Social impact:
Communities who suffer form high levels of crime suffer from a number of social problems. These include poor health due to significant levels of drug and alcohol abuse. Also, poor education standards due to poor discipline and attendance at school leading to further issues with unemployment. For example; this is a common problem in some of the poorest parts of Glasgow such as Drumchapel.
Financial impact-
Financial impact:
Communities that have high levels of crime tend to have a ‘bad’ reputation – Glasgow is frequently called the “Murder Capital of Europe”. Companies and businesses will not settle in areas that have a bad reputation, therefore these areas tend to lack job opportunities. In these areas there are often high rates of unemployment. For example, communities such as Easterhouse are an example of areas which have financially suffered due to the high crime rate.
wider society
Financial impact-
Crime costs a country a great deal of money. The cost of the police, courts and prison systems is huge. The NHS has to treat drug addicts and the victims of violent crime.
For example, it costs the British taxpayer and government on average £40,000 per year to keep someone in prison.
