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Study Notes 3rd Year > FRSC 3110 Crim > Flashcards

FRSC 3110 Crim Flashcards

1
Q

Four definitional perspectives in present day criminology

A

Legalistic
Political
Sociological
Psychological

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2
Q

Legalistic Perspective

A

Crime: thought of the most straight forward. An invention of the law

Human conduct in violation of the criminal laws of a state, the federal government, or a provincial or local jurisdiction that has the power to make such laws

Without the law to determine the behavior to be criminal there would be no crime
So…is crime just an invention of the law?

The social, moral and individual significance of fundamentally immoral forms of behaviour is not easily recognized

Need to consider the temporal element
Problems:
Requires the justice system to function properly, since it involves people, there is error.

Laws change as morals and society change. Gives power to who’s able to make the laws?

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3
Q

Political perspective

A

Defines crime in terms of power structures

Crime is the result of criteria built into the law by powerful groups & used to label selected undesirable behavior as illegal

Law serves the interests of the politically powerful so they dictate what is criminal

Criminal laws do not bear any inherent relationship to popular notions of right and wrong

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4
Q

Sociological Perspective

A

Crime is an antisocial act that is necessary to repress in order to preserve the existing system of society (Fattah)

Primarily an offense against human relationships and then a violation of the law (Classen)

Need a broader consideration of crime than either the legal or political perspectives

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5
Q

Psychological Perspective

A

Crime as problem behavior

A form of social maladjustment.

Results in difficulties in living within a framework of acceptable social arrangements

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6
Q

Three contrasting points of view on what should be defined as criminal

A

The Consensus Perspective

The Pluralistic Perspective

The Conflict Perspective

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7
Q

Consensus Perspective

A

Perspective on social organization

Holds that laws should be enacted to criminalize given forms of behavior when members of society generally agree that such laws are necessary

Core values exist within society
Laws reflect the collective will of the people

Laws serve all people equally

Those who violate the law represent a unique subgroup of the population that have to be brought in line

Whose values contravene the majority

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8
Q

Pluralist Perspective

A

Holds that multiple values and beliefs exist in any complex society…

But most social actors agree on usefulness of law as a means of dispute resolution

Many diverse social groups exist within society

Each social group has its own characteristic set of values, beliefs, and interests

Formalized laws are viewed as useful in the settlement of disputes

The legal system is value-neutral and concerned with the best interests of society

Value Neutral

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9
Q

Value Neutral

A

free of petty disputes or above the level of general contentiousness that may characterize relationships between groups

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10
Q

Conflict Perspective

A

An approach to social organization that considers conflict a fundamental aspect of social life and can never be fully resolved

Society is comprised of diverse social groups

Each group has different definitions of right and wrong

Conflict between groups is unavoidable

Group conflict centers on the exercise of political power

Law is a tool of power

The powerful strive to keep their power

Further their interests (gain and deny “legitimate” access to resources)

But no matter how you look at it, crime is diverse, in both nature and motive.

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11
Q

Crime rate trends in the 60s and 70s

A

Increase in alcohol consumption, increase in divorce rates, increase in use of mind-altering drugs

Dramatic increase in crime rates

Contributed to greater interest in discipline of criminology

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12
Q

Definitions of criminology

A

Boyd - “the scientific study of crime”

Gabor – “the systematic study of crime & reaction of society to criminality”

Winterdyk – “the scientific study of human behaviour, crime causation, crime prevention, and the punishment and rehab of offenders”

Schmalleger & Volk – “an interdisciplinary profession built around the scientific study of crime and criminal behavior, including their forms, causes, legal aspects, prevention, control”

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13
Q

3 things criminologists do

A

The study of what motivates people to commit crimes

Identifying effective crime prevention strategies

Considering the response of society to different crimes

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14
Q

Definition of criminology

A

Draws on sociology, psychology, biology, law geography, economics

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15
Q

Criminologist definition

A

Study crime and its prevention

Criminals and their treatment

Societies responses to crime

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16
Q

Criminalist

A

Focus on the collection of evidence from crime scenes. Used mostly in the U.S

Identify, document, collect, test, analyze & preserve evidence

Interpret findings and testify in court

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17
Q

Criminalization and decriminalization

A

Criminalization process

How certain behaviors become criminalized over time, while others become decriminalized

The stigmatization process — how offenders are treated or “labeled”

Net widening/shrinking — the potential of new laws and methods to increase/decrease “community” supervision and impact social control

The effects of smartphones and electronic surveillance

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18
Q

3 approaches for integrating theories

A

Sociological approaches

Psychological approaches

Biological approaches

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19
Q

Sociological Approaches

A

Focus on the social order and on how social forces work to define crime and create the conditions in which crime can either diminish or flourish

Examine how social conditions (social context) can influence our laws and our crime rates.

Argue that criminal conduct is more likely to be driven by social conditions than by individual “aberrations”

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20
Q

Psychological Approaches

A

Focus on individual criminal behavior

Trying to predict the risk of reoffending

Trying to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitation

Put the individual front and center
they focus on the individual’s psyche and behavior

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21
Q

Biological Approaches

A

Early criminologists argue that criminality was a biological trait

Little empirical evidence to support the notion of a crime gene

Recent biological approaches have focused more on interplay between biology and the environment

Argue that some individuals have personality traits or certain characteristics that predispose them to committing crime

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22
Q

Social Problem Perspective

A

Crime is the manifestation of underlying social problems:

Poverty

Discrimination

Breakdown of traditional social institutions

Pervasive family violence

Inadequate socialization practices

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23
Q

Social Responsibility Perspective

A

Individuals are fundamentally responsible for their own behavior

They choose crime over other more law-abiding courses of action

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24
Q

Why measure crime

A

Gause the heath of a community or society

Determine if crime is on the increase, in decline, or fairly stable over time and compare the rates across neighborhoods, regions, or nations.

Predict crime to prevent it.

Determine the risk of victimization for different groups.

Establish the social and economic impact of crime on society.

Allocate resources in the most cost-effective way.

Create and evaluate crime prevention programs.

Debunk crime myths.

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25
Q

2 ways to measure crime

A

Quantitative and qualitative data

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26
Q

Quantitative data

A

Data represented in numeric form

Methods for collection highly structured

Shows overall patterns – comparisons made by group, times & patterns

Issues are what to count, how to define crime, how to count?

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27
Q

Qualitative Data

A

Data collected result of interactions with research participants

Puts context to quantitative research

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28
Q

Basis for crime measuring for many of commonly used crime statistics

A

Crimes known to police

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29
Q

Crime Funnel

A

Large amount of undetected, unreported crime. Most crimes (two thirds) are not reported to police.

Undetected/unreported crime → Detected but unreported crime → Reported crime→Reported by police (UCR)

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30
Q

4 sources of data

A

Official Crime Statistics – Uniform
Crime Reports (UCR & UCR2)

Victimization Surveys

Self-report Surveys

Other (observational and experimental studies; biographies, documentaries, public records)

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31
Q

UCR

A

Uniform Crime Report

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32
Q

Three areas of concern with official crime data

A

The failure of victims and witnesses to report many crimes.

Law enforcement practices and recordkeeping may vary.

Methodological issues (E.g. How crime counted?)

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33
Q

Dark figure of crime

A

is crime that is unknown, either because it is undiscovered or unreported.
Police discover < 5% of crime themselves

two-thirds of crimes are not reported to the police

Suggests that data collected by the UCR is “erroneous and incomplete”

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34
Q

Reasons victims report crime

A

Completed (vs. attempted)

Produces injuries

Involves weapon

Direct confrontation

Substantial financial loss

Committed by stranger

Insured property

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35
Q

Reasons victims do not report crime

A

By a family or friend

Perception of safety is affected

Incriminating themselves

Scared or threatened by appraisals

No financial ability i.e. lawyer

36
Q

Police are less likely to report crime if:

A

Situation can be dealt with through a warning, confiscation of illicit goods

There is a close relationship between victim and perpetrator (e.g., siblings, friends)

37
Q

Police more likely to report if:

A

Police are engaged in anti-crime campaign, or order maintenance crackdown

38
Q

Crime severity index

A

Severity based on sentence length

Still subject to issue because determined by what judiciary think worst sentences should be

When in fact some sentences are longer because it is a repeat offender, and not necessarily because the offence, in and of itself, is serious

39
Q

Confounding effects

A

Crime drop or crime swap

Police reported break and enters and motor vehicle thefts

Opportunity

Rising awareness and detection capability

40
Q

Victimization surveys

A

A second source of data on the extent of crime

Ask people about the nature and frequency of victimizations they have experienced, over a specified period of time.

41
Q

GSS

A

General Social Survey

Phone survey conducted by statistics canada

Every 5 years

Greater than 15 y/o

42
Q

Distortions in GSS measurements

A

Misses youth under 15, the homeless, hospital patients, prisoners — some of the most “vulnerable” or “marginalized” populations

43
Q

Problems with victimization surveys

A

Over-report incidents as crimes due to the mistaken belief that an offence has occurred.

Over-report the extent or gravity of crimes for attention etc.

Under-reporting - decide not to disclose a crime due to embarrassment, fear, etc.

May not discover all the crimes committed against them (i.e. minor thefts).

Respondents may not remember certain incidents – memory fade

44
Q

Telescoping

A

unintentionally remembering prior victimization incidents outside of the survey time framework

45
Q

Self-report surveys

A

Ask people about their own criminal behaviour via questionnaires or interviews

May provide less biased estimates of the criminal involvement of different groups

46
Q

Problems with self-report studies

A

Under-reporting of crimes due to shame, denial, or fear that offending may be revealed to the authorities.

Under-reporting due to a failure to recall an incident.

Uneven distribution of under-reporting.

Some evidence that those committing more offences tend to admit to fewer crimes.

Exaggeration by some about their involvement in crime to appear “cool.”

The focus is on relatively minor infractions by youth.

47
Q

CFOJA

A

Call it femicide observatory for justice and accountability

48
Q

Variables observed to be related to criminal activity

A

age, sex, ancestry, social class

49
Q

Age in relation to crime

A

Age one of strongest predictors of criminal behaviour

People 15-24 overrepresented among those who commit crime

65+ less likely to be victimized

Children over-represented as victims of sexual assault, sexual exploitation and incest

50
Q

Ancestry and ethnicity in relation to crime

A

Canadian crime stats do not routinely report on the ancestry/ethnicity of offenders

Only official Canadian stats on this come from inmate profiles

51
Q

Socio economic status and crime

A

What is a major hurdle in assessing the link between SES and crime?

Confounding variables, outliers, depends on location, how we define SES

52
Q

5 main correlates of delinquency

A

Negative school attachment

Anti-social peers

Victimization

Aggression

Negative parenting

53
Q

Categories of crime

A

Violent crime

Property crime

Crimes against public order

Organized crime

54
Q

Violent crime examples

A

Homicide

Attempted murder

Assault

Sexual assault

Robbery

55
Q

Homicide

A

Homicide occurs when a person, directly or indirectly, by any means causes the death of a human being

Culpable and non-culpable

56
Q

Culpable Murder

A

Murder - 1st anad 2nd degree
Manslaughter
Infanticide

57
Q

Non-culpable

A

Justifiable homicide

Excusable homicide

58
Q

Trends in homicide

A

majority committed by males

Most victims knew their killer

Woman are 4x more likely to be victims of intimate partner homicide than men

59
Q

Assault defintion

A

intentional or threatened application of force on another person without their consent.

60
Q

Three categories of assault

A

Level 1 or common assault: lease serious, includes punching, slapping, shoving, or threats

Level 2: assault that involves a weapon or that causes bodily harm.

Level 3 or aggravated assault: Involves assault that diable, disfigurate, or endanger life

61
Q

Definition of robbery

A

Theft of property from another person through the use/threat of force or through intimidation

The expression “My house was robbed” is actually incorrect

62
Q

Stalking Statistics

A

Stalker are mostly male

Victims mostly females < 40 years old

Stalkers usually know victims

Usually history of abuse in previous intimate relationship

63
Q

Hate crimes and primary motivation

A

Hate crimes are designed to harm and intimidate an entire group through acts directed at individuals the offender believes is a member of that group

Primary motivation: bias against race or ethnicity (60%), religion (24%) or sexual orientation (10%)

64
Q

Terrorism definition and goals

A

Usually consists of threats of violence to induce widespread fear

Cause alarm or demoralize a wider audience

Coerce governments/public to act consistent with interests of terrorists

May seek to overthrow governments, exclude “outsiders” from society, or seek social objectives

65
Q

Definition of property crime

5 examples

A

Unlawful acts committed with intent of gaining money or property

Break and enter

Theft

Fraud

Arson

Environmental abuse

66
Q

Definition of break and enter

A

Unlawful entry into a residential, commercial, or other building for the purpose of the commission of a criminal offence, usually theft

Entry does not have to be forced

1 in every 25 homes

67
Q

Why did break and enter become more prevalent after WWII

A

An increasing volume of sought-after portable items, usually electronics

Lower household occupancy

Many more one parent families

People less home-based

Live alone

68
Q

Breakdown of crime categories

A

21% break and enter
14% motor vehicle theft
1% theft>5000$
53% theft<5000$
3% possession of stolen goods
8% fraud

69
Q

Definition of theft

A

Act of dishonestly taking property belonging to another (converting to your own use)

With the intention of depriving the owner of it

Either permanently or temporarily

70
Q

Theft statistics

A

people 15 to 24 years of age were nearly 5x more likely to be victimized

females are more likely to be victims

71
Q

What is project taurus

A

After several vehicle stolen from owners in Toronto and York Region

Perpetrators would use various distraction methods and swam victims as they entered/exited vehicles

Once stolen, attempted to disable GPS prior to transporting (or attempting to transport) vehicles overseas

72
Q

Definition of shoplifting

A

Usually take small items for personal use, rather than for resale

Conceal under clothes, in shopping bags, falsebottomed cases

Worse at Christmas and harder to catch

73
Q

Why are employees and customers witnessing shoplifting less likely to report it

A

Often difficult to prevent (‘target harden’)

74
Q

3 types of shoplifters

A

The amateur pilferer – 90% of shoplifters

The booster or heel – professional shoplifter

The kleptomaniac - driven to steal

75
Q

Amateur Pilferer shoplifter

A

Usually respectable person

Usually respond to an opportunity that has been preceded by a stressful experience

Or the need to demonstrate competence – to self or others

When caught older people change behaviour but youth are less likely deterred

76
Q

Booster or Heel shoplifter

A

Steals for personal interest and/or to resell stolen items for ½ or 1/3 of original retail cost, some steal-to-order

May also be part of an organized group, each with a particular role

77
Q

Kleptomaniac Shoplifter

A

Not for material gain but for the thrill and arousal gained from the experience

Only a small % of shoplifters

78
Q

Definition of crimes against the public

3/4 examples

A

Violate prevailing morality, social policy, public opinion

Counterfeiting - unauthorized reproduction of things

Prostitution - not illegal, but associated activities are such as communicating on the purpose of

Controlled and illegal drugs - opiods

Terrorism SOMETIMES

79
Q

Prostitution

A

Exchange of sex for money

Not illegal in canada

although, Publicly communicating with another person for the purposes of buying or selling sexual services is illegal

Material benefit from sexual services is illegal

Advertising in newspapers, online, or other forms of media by sex workers is illegal

80
Q

Eustachio Gallese Case

A

Enraged by his girlfriends decision to leave him he killed her

Sentenced to life in prison with no parole for 15 years

Granted on day parole and had been allowed to meet with women to have his sexual needs met

Viewed as a threat to women he was told to report all of his relationships with women

However he was allowed to meet with sex workers only for the purpose of responding to his sexual needs

Banned form a massage parlour when he become violent towards women

why didnt they report it

81
Q

Illicit drugs

A

Correlation between drug use and crime

82
Q

CDSS

A

Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy

Public health approach to substance abuse

Governance shifted from the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, to the Minister of Health

Restored harm reduction as a pillar alongside prevention, treatment, and enforcement

83
Q

Harm Reduction in regards to drug use

A

Set of practical strategies and ideas seeking to reduce negative consequences associated with drug use

Includes safer use, managed use, abstinence, meeting people who use drugs “where they’re at,” and addressing conditions of use along with the use itself

84
Q

3 stages of intersection of prevention and harm reduction efforts

A

Primary:

Preventing initial use of or the delay of initial substance use

Secondary:

Early detection or reduction of substance use once problems have already begun

Tertiary:

Reducing substance use problems or harms to prevent further deterioration or death

85
Q

2 categories of offences in relation to drugs

A

Supply offences (trafficking, production, and importation and exportation)

Possession offences (purchase and use of illegal and prohibited drugs

86
Q

Cannabis Laws

A

To buy, possess, or use, you must be of legal age

Strict penalties to sell/provide to minors

You can possess up to 30 grams of legal dried cannabis, or equivalent in non-dried form, in public

Illegal to take cannabis and cannabis products, including those with CBD, across the Canadian border, whether you’re leaving or coming to Canada. This applies to all countries, whether cannabis is legal there or not

Study Notes 3rd Year (10 decks)

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