Defining crime, understanding crime Flashcards
What is crime
A social construct, a label on certain behaviours.
Law - when a human right has been violated
The way we view crime in society is more aligned with the legal or human rights definition
Define deviancy
A behaviour which is, ‘bizarre, unexpected, self destructive’
A breach or break away from the social norms and values of society
What is rule of law
A concept in which no one is above the law, is applied equally t everyone regardless of status
What is criminology
The study of criminal law, in the prevention, distruption and reduction of crime and the study of the responses to crime
Crime science
The operational practise of professionals
Concerned wit the idea of scientific and tech
Prevention, disruption and reduction of crime and disorder
Applied criminology
Critical - conflict driven approach - oppression
Feminist - conflict driven approach - gender
Post modern - conflict driven - lense of powe, discourse of law , social inequality
Applied criminology
Critical - conflict driven approach - oppression
Feminist - conflict driven approach - gender
Post modern - conflict driven - lenses of power, discourse of law , social inequality
Criminal justice
The study and application of criminology - enforces solution
Use of crime stats
Measure crime trends
Mapping - preventive strategy
Evaluating policy
Negatives of crime stats
Selective use of data
Misleading commentary
Misrepresentation od facts
Misleading headlines
Misleading perseptions of crime
Sources of crime
police, crime victim surveys, safety reports ,police data reports , court data
What is considered a crime
- Someone must decide it is a crime
- A decision to report to the police
- Police must take the report as genuine
The Golden rule
We do not observe the change in crime, we infer a change in crime
