Defining and measuring crime Flashcards
What is a crime?
any act committed in violation of the law which results in punishment by the state after conviction by a court. It is an act that is harmful to an individual, group or society.
What are the historical issues with defining crime?
changes over time because of attitudes in historical context. For example, hitting children or homosexuality.
What are the cultural issues with defining crime?
A crime in one culture may not be considered as such in another. Crime is culturally relative because social attitudes differ. There is a difference in punishment- not all acts that break the law are punished but still cause harm. The age and mental state of the offender also makes crime differ.
-Therefore crime is a social construct.
What are the three ways to measure crime?
Official stats, victim surveys and offender surveys.
Official statistics?
Government records of the total number of crimes reported to the police.
Published by the Home Office annually.
Allows for crime prevention strategies and policing initiatives as well as the direction of resources.
However, not all crimes are reported and figures may be manipulated for political reasons.
Victim surveys?
Record peoples experience with crime over a specific time period.
Crime Survey for England and Wales. 50,000 households are asked what crimes have been committed against them over a fixed period of time.
-More details and gives people a chance to talk without fear of repercussions.
-Relies on people taking part. People may not be honest, especially if sharing details would implicate themselves.
Offender surveys?
A self report measure that involves individuals volunteering details of the number/types of crimes they have committed.
Tend to target groups of likely offenders based on risk factors.
Aims to understand and prevent the crimes.
Can give details about crimes, and may be honest if it will help their case.
Issue of honesty.
