Quiz 1 - Chapter 1 Flashcards
General definition of crime
Social construct based on legal, moral, social, and psychological factors
What is the general definition of crime based on?
Subjective notions around how to maintain justice and fairness
How do definitions of crime vary?
Across history and cultures
Consistency of definitions of crime across history and cultures
Murder, robbery, theft, incest
What can lead to changes in the Criminal Code?
Cultural changes
Examples of changes in the Criminal Code
Birth control
Women’s rights
Abortion
Homosexuality
What does criminal behaviour refer to?
Intentional behaviour that violates a criminal code; did not occur accidentally or without justification or excuse
What should psychological understandings of criminal behaviour consider?
Cultural issues (e.g., inequalities)
Name 5 careers possible related to criminal justice
Correctional officer
Parole officer
Probation officer
Psychologist
Professor
What age are most victims of crime?
Under 30 years old
Name 3 cases involving provincial jurisdiction
Sentences of less than 2 years
Community sentences
Young offender services
Name 3 cases associated with federal jurisdiction
Sentences of more than 2 years
Violent crime
More serious criminal histories
What is considered violent crime?
Robbery, sexual assault, physical assault
In Canada in 2021, what % of criminal incidents were non-violent?
76%
What is the most common type of crime reported in Canada in 2021? Prevalence?
Property crimes
58%
What happens to most people found guilty of a crime?
Probation or receiving a short custodial sentence
What happens to most people in custody for longer sentences?
Eventually released back into the community
When did violent crime rise most since 2007? By how much?
Rose by 5% in 2022
Explain the political evolution of crime in Canada in the past few years
“Liberal era” (Trudeau) replaced the “Get-Tough-On-Crime era” (Harper)
What is media bringing attention to with regards to the criminal justice system in the past few years?
Examples?
Systemic issues within the criminal justice system
Biases against Black and Indigenous people
Women and sexual health
Do most Canadians believe that crime is increasing or decreasing?
Increasing
Explain the trends of police-reported crimes since 1992
Rates of police-reported crimes decreased in all categories between 1992 and 2015
Then, increased steadily between 2015 and 2019
Then, decreased between 2019 and 2020
Explain trends in police-reported crimes and Covid-19
Overall crime decreased by 16%
Hate crimes (e.g., based on race or ethnicity) increased by 37%
Domestic disturbance calls increased by 12%
Child pornography cases increased by 23%
What do crime and mental health reflect?Implication?
Injustices and maladies in systemic culture
Recognizing this allows opportunity for compassion and real rehabilitation
Using the psychological understanding of criminal behaviour, why do we want to understand criminality? Give examples
To assess and correct it
Why are men more likely than women to commit crimes
Why do only a small & of people maintain criminal behaviour into adulthood
Why do incarcerated people tend to be less educated
What does the psychological understanding of criminal behaviour require? Give example
Different theoretical perspectives to assess individual differences in criminal behaviour
Genetic/biological/evolutionary + learning
What do offenders form?
Examples?
An overall very heterogeneous group
Not all people who commit crimes are male
Not all people who commit crimes are poorly educated
Forensic psychology
Any application of psychology to legal system
Correctional psychology
Specific psychological study of criminal behaviour
List the general personality and cognitive social learning perspective/theory framework
Immediate situation
Attitudes supportive of crime
History of criminal behaviour
Balance of costs and rewards
Social supports for crime
Community issues
Interpersonal issues
Personal issues
Give examples of the immediate situation
OH consumption, family stress
Give examples of attitudes supportive of crime
Antisocial attitudes, crime being normalized
Give example of history of criminal behaviour
Initiation into gangs starts early (becomes part of their identity)
Give examples of balance of costs and rewards
Financial gain and social acceptance outweigh risk of consequences
Give examples of social supports for crime
Initiation results
Other gang members help facilitate crime
Give examples of community issues
Canada’s colonial past causing racism and intergenerational trauma (e.g., through addiction, projected reactions to disenfranchisement)
Give examples of interpersonal issues
Neglect, abuse, unstable relationships, rivalry within community (e.g., between gangs)
Give examples of personal issues
Mental health problems (e.g., addiction)
List the central 8 risk factors in recidivism and criminality
Criminal history
Antisocial personality pattern
Procriminal attitudes
Procriminal associates
Family and/or marital problems
School and/or work
Leisure and/or recreation
Substance misuse
Describe criminal history as one of the central 8 risk factors
Early and continuing involvement in a number and variety of antisocial acts in a variety of settings
Describe antisocial personality pattern as one of the central 8 risk factors
Adventurous pleasure-seeking, weak self-control, restlessly aggressive
Describe procriminal attitudes as one of the central 8 risk factors
Attitudes, values, beliefs, and rationalizations supportive of crime; cognitive-emotional states of anger, resentment, and defiance; criminal vs. reformed identity
Describe procriminal associates as one of the central 8 risk factors
Close association with others who engage in crime and relative isolation from others who do not engage in crime; immediate social support for crime
Describe family and/or marital problems as one of the central 8 risk factors
Low levels of nurturance and/or caring and poor monitoring and/or supervision in the family of origin for young people
Describe school and/or work as one of the central 8 risk factors
Low levels of performance and satisfaction in school and/or work
Describe leisure and/or recreation as one of the central 8 risk factors
Low levels of involvement and satisfaction in prosocial leisure pursuits
Describe substance misuse as one of the central 8 risk factors
Misuse of alcohol and/or other drugs
List factors that do not significantly predict criminal behaviour/recidivism
Personal and/or emotional distress
Low self-esteem
Major mental disorder
Physical health
Low intelligence
SES status of origin
Seriousness of current offense
Fear of official punishment
Describe in more detail the effect of mental health on criminal behaviour/recidivism
SUDs, ASPD, Anxiety
73% prevalence of a DSM disorder among people being admitted into Canadian Federal Corrections
81% prevalence of a DSM disorder among people who are or will be incarcerated at some point in their life
Explain the current trend in correctional psychology
Slowly becoming more strengths-based/focused on protective factors and desistence
