Nature of Crime

Question 1

Define ‘Crime’

Answer 1

An act or omission resulting in harm to society at large and is punishable by the state

Question 2

What is Actus Reus

Answer 2

The physical guilty ACT of the crime

Question 3

What is Mens Rea

Answer 3

The guilty MIND (mental state of the accused)

Question 4

What are the categories of crime?

Answer 4

1. Offences against the PERSON
2. Offences against the sovereign
3. Economic Offences
4. Drug Offences
5. Driving Offences
6. Public Order Offences
7. Preliminary Offences
8. Regulatory Offences

Question 5

What are the three types of offences against the person?

Answer 5

1. Homicide
2. Assault
3. Sexual Assault

Question 6

Define Homicide

Answer 6

The unlawful killing of a person

Question 7

Define Murder

Answer 7

The DELIBERATE killing of a person. Punishable by life sentence

Question 8

Define Manslaughter

Answer 8

The killing of a person in a manner that is considered less intentional than murder

Question 9

What is the most serious sexual assault in NSW?

Answer 9

Aggravated sexual assault in company

Question 10

What are offences against the Sovereign?

Answer 10

Political offences against the state or heads of state

Question 11

What is sedition?

Answer 11

Promoting discontent, hatred or contempt against a government or leader of the state through slanderous use of language.

In Australia, this includes urging force or violence against the government.

Question 12

What are economic offences?

Answer 12

Crimes resulting in losing property or sums of money

Question 13

What are the 3 types of economic offences?

Answer 13

1. Crimes against property
2. White collar crime
3. Computer offences

Question 14

Define Larceny

Answer 14

When one or more people take another person’s property without the intention of returning it. CKA theft or stealing

Question 15

Define Robbery

Answer 15

When property is taken directly from a victim, usually forcefully

Question 16

Define Break and Enter

Answer 16

When a person enters a home with the intent to commit an offence UKA burglary

Question 17

What is Tax Evasion?

Answer 17

An attempt to avoid paying the full amount of taxes due by, among other things, concealing or underestimating a person or business’s assets

Question 18

What is Insider Trading?

Answer 18

When a person illegally trades on the share market to their own advantage using confidential information

Question 19

Define affray

Answer 19

Using or threatening to use violence on another person that could cause someone to fear for thier safety

Question 20

Define riot

Answer 20

12 or more people using or threatening to use violence for a common purpose

Question 21

What is a Summary Offence?

Answer 21

A less severe offence heard and sentenced by a Magistrate in a Local Court. Max punishment is 2 years

Question 22

What is an Indictable Offence?

Answer 22

A more severe offence that is heard and sentenced by a judge in a District Court or tried before a judge and a jury. Includes severe punishments

Question 23

Define and state the 4 parties to a crime

Answer 23

1. Principal in the 1st degree MASTERMIND
   Person who actually commits a criminal act
2. Principal in the 2nd degree HELPER
   Person who was present at the crime and assisted the principal
3. Accessory before the fact PLANNER
   Person who assisted the principal to plan crime before it was committed
4. Accessory after the fact ESCAPE GUY
   Person who assisted principal after crime was committed e.g disposing evidence

Question 24

What factors affect crime?

Answer 24

1. Phycological
2. Social
3. Economic
4. Political
5. Genetic
6. Self-Interest

Question 25

What are the two systems of crime prevention?

Answer 25

Situational and Social crime prevention

Question 26

What is situational crime prevention?

Answer 26

Often physical attempts to stop the crime before its committed. E.g CCTV, Clothing Tags

Question 27

What is social crime prevention?

Answer 27

Tactic aimed to address the underlying reasons that people commit crimes.