Module 1: Overview of Criminal Behaviour

Question 1

Crime

Answer 1

Crime is a social construct which is not universal over time or within a culture.

How we define crime impacts statistics - which are important for policy development - and how we evaluate the impact of interventions.

Question 2

Which crimes ARE universal?

Answer 2

Robbery, incest, and theft.

Question 3

Criminal Behaviour

Answer 3

This is intentional behaviour that violates a criminal code.

Exceptions: child-perpetrated anti-social behaviour.

Question 4

Prevalence

Answer 4

of cases or events that occurred at one point in time.

Question 5

Prevalence Rate

Answer 5

Prevalence/Population

Question 6

Incidence

Answer 6

of crimes or events during a specific time period/interval.

Question 7

Incidence Rate

Answer 7

Incidence/Population

Question 8

Crime Rate

Answer 8

of crimes per 100,00 population

Question 9

Correlate of Crime

Answer 9

Variable, factor, etc. that is positively associated/correlated with criminal behaviour.

Question 10

What is the best way to find correlates of crime?

Answer 10

Cross-sectional research designs.

They are cost-effective

Question 11

Reverse Causation

Answer 11

When one variable causes another (when you suspected a vice-versa effect).

Question 12

Reciprocal Causation

Answer 12

Maybe both variables strengthen each other.

Question 13

Risk Factor

Answer 13

This is a variable that precedes the outcome of interest and increases the probability that the outcome will occur.

Question 14

What is the best way to find risk factors?

Answer 14

Longitudinal designs.

More expensive

Question 15

Causal Risk Factor

Answer 15

A risk factor that’s been manipulated/changed that results in the outcome of interest.

Question 16

What is the best way to find causal risk factors?

Answer 16

Randomized controlled treatment designs.

Question 17

What are the Central Eight Risk Factors?

Answer 17

Criminal history, personality, associates, attitudes, substance use, marital/family, deficits, education/employment, and unstructured leisure activity.

Question 18

What are the Big Four?

Answer 18

History, personality, associates, and attitudes.

Question 19

Dynamic Risk Factors

Answer 19

These are factors that can be changed through intervention.

All of the Central Eight Risk Factors are dynamic, except for Criminal History

Question 20

Criminogenic Needs

Answer 20

These are linked to criminal behaviour.

This term is often used interchangeably with Dynamic Risk Factors

Question 21

Non-Criminogenic Needs

Answer 21

Change over time, but are not linked to crime.

E.g. depression, anxiety, low self-esteem.

Question 22

Crime Maps

Answer 22

They map out crime hot spots - which is where there is a concentration of crime.

Crime hot spots will inform police on where they might get the ‘best bang for their buck’ in terms of reducing crimes.

Police might set up community centers devoted to community policing in these crime hot spots.