Nature Of Crime

Question 1

Define crime

Answer 1

Any act or omission committed against the community at large which is not punishable by the criminal law (don’t forget to talk about a omission-
2009 the death of Ebony case R v BW &SW Death due to omission)

Question 2

How do you prove someone guilty of a criminal act?

Answer 2

It is necessary to prove that

• the accused intended to commit the crime
• the accused actually committed the crime
• there is a causal link between the accused actions and the crime committed

“Opportunity reduction”

-ve doesn’t address underlying causes of why people commit crimes and displacement theory

Question 3

What does situational crime prevention attempt to do?

Answer 3

Make it harder to commit criminal acts by

1. increasing the risk of getting caught
2. making the crime more difficult to perpetrate 3.making the crime less rewarding

Question 4

What does social crime prevention aim to do?

Answer 4

Break the cycle of crime by addressing the factors that influence criminal behaviour. It is more expensive initially than situational crime prevention, but in the long run will be cheaper for society.

Question 5

Egs of social crime prevention:

Answer 5

Love Bites
Parenting programs
PCYC
Diversionary programs
Ensuring adequate access to education-Home School Liason Officers

Question 6

Egs of situational crime prevention

Answer 6

surveillance
lighting in public areas
bars on shop windows/banks

Question 7

Factors that may lead to criminal behaviour

Answer 7

Low education
Poor
Young, male
From a low socio economic background
Have peers/family that engage in crim activity/disregard the law
Self interest/Greed
Political reasons.

Question 8

manslaughter is different to murder

Answer 8

because accused didn’t have intent

Question 9

voluntary manslaughter

Answer 9

offender kills with intent- like murder, but there are mitigating factors, eg. defence of provocation

Question 10

involuntary manslaughter

Answer 10

death occurred because offender acted with negligence /recklessly but didn’t intend to kill

Question 11

Constructive manslaughter

Answer 11

killing of a person whilst another illegal act was carried out w/o intention of killing/causing serious bodily harm

Question 12

larceny

Answer 12

personal theft

Question 13

sedition

Answer 13

act of encouraging hatred or contempt of the monarch/gov or inciting violence against a grouup

Question 14

treason

Answer 14

attempt to brig down governmet

Question 15

majority of community will obey laws that are

Answer 15

fair, just, utilitarian and represent their morals and ethics. Another reason is bc they contribute a safer more orderly society and there are significant consequences for breaking them.

Question 16

people break the law bc

Answer 16

• disregard for it
• disagree
• enjoy it/don’t understand it
• personal/economic gain