Criminolog & Crime Prevention Flashcards
Crime
Generally used to describe behaviour that breaks the criminal law
Within the criminal law a crime is conduct which when it results in certain consequences may lead to prosecution and punishment in a court of law
Four modes of social control
- Direct control by external forces
- internalised control
- Indirect control
- Control through alternative means of need satisfaction
Direct control by external forces
Family/ parents but also teachers and police using direct restraint and punishment for violation
Internalised control
Individual regulate their own behaviour even where there is no direct external control via some process such as conscience
Indirect control
Such as affection for others or identification with authority figures
Control through alternative means of need satisfaction
There can be more than one way of achieving goals thus reducing the temptation not to comfort
Criminology
Considers the nature, causes, extent and control of criminal behaviour on an individual or societal basis
CRAVED
Concealable Removable Available Valuable Enjoyable Disposable
Routine activity theory
Target
Motivated offender
Absence of guardian
Commission of crime
Rational choice
The underlying principle of the rational choice theory is that actions make calculations of course of action based upon some form of assessment
Psychological positivism learned behaviour
The nature of an individuals conduct is influenced by the conduct of the group with whom they came into contact
Procedural justice
The demonstration that the decisions and procedures made and carried out by the contributors of the criminal justice system are made fairly
Crime can be prevented by
Increasing the effort
Increasing the risks
Reducing the rewards
Why measure crime
Police funding
Measure police performance
Social policy
Why don’t people report crime
Too trivial
Victims too scared
Crime is embarrassing
