SOC212 - 4. Nonviolent Crime Flashcards
Nonviolent Criminals differ on
How they identify with crime + other criminals.
strength of commitment to crime as behavior
extent to which they develop + acquire more sophisticated criminal norms + techniques
Occasional Property Offenders
don’t see themselves as criminals, and try to rationalize their offenses to convince themselves that they have not committed criminal acts.
may consist of committing
property offenses such as: auto theft, cheque forgery, shoplifting, employee
theft, vandalism, identity theft, online scams
Occasional Property Offenders
criminal behavior is typically infrequent + occurs when situations are favorable
anyone can do this
no previous criminal records
Occasional Property Offenders
shoplifting: can’t afford
respectable shoplifters: middle class, have enough money to pay
vandalism: youth, public property
Conventional Offenders
Serious criminals who have progressed from violence + theft as juveniles into more serious adult criminal behavior
Conventional Offenders
Frequent interactions with police, courts, juvenile authorities, youth detention centers, probation, and prison.
Conventional Offenders
developing skills learned from someone else
pattern, circular + ongoing
Juvenile camps before, now it’s more just punishment
Self-Conception of Conventional Offenders
develop self-conceptions through their interaction with others of similar criminal backgrounds
Offenders who are employed find it easier to maintain noncriminal self-concepts.
Self-Conception of Conventional Offenders
depends on who you hang with
LSI: survey + interview in prison
risk level: determines supervision needed, type of punishment, needs, looks at parole
still taken into consideration
Society’s Reaction to Conventional Offenders
Society’s response to conventional criminality has resulted in an increase in penalties + alternative forms of punishment.
Mandatory minimum sentence: more severe punishment, deter crime
used to look at context - factors into sentence
Society’s Reaction to Conventional Offenders
- Prison over-population: harsher punishments
* Young Offenders: less serious crimes, movement away from imprisoning them, to scaring them and bootcamps
Society’s Reaction to Conventional Offenders
focused on rehab - what did we as a society do wrong
70s: partially, increase in crime - became more about warehousing criminals (permanently dangerous)
now there’s a bit of pushback
Society’s Reaction to Conventional Offenders
Prison Industrial Complex: economic incentive, keeps going
prison can be built + city can be built around it
political influence: lobby groups
services provided to industry
Political Criminal Offenders
- Crimes against the government
* Crimes by the government
Crimes against the government
crimes against the state such as protests, expressions of
beliefs contrary to accepted standards, or attempts to alter current social + political structures.
Crimes by governments
corruption, obstruction of justice, conspiracy, perjury, and bribery
Political Criminal Offenders
Political crimes by local and provincial/state governments:
Police officers commit acts of misconduct such as brutality,
illegal use of force, illegal searches an seizures, + violating citizens’ civil rights.
Political Criminal Offenders
Robocalls: sabotage election
all layers of gov
Ferguson: Black lives matter
not being swept under the rug anymore
Political Criminal Offenders
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Society’s Reaction to Political Offenders
Society’s response varies depending on # of people who accept the government’s authority.
Organized Crime and Criminals
series of illegal transactions between multiple offenders, some of whom employ specialized skills, over a
continuous period of time, for purposes of economic advantage, and political power when necessary to gain
economic advantage (Rhodes, 1984:4)
Organized Crime and Criminals
Seven areas of illicit enterprise activities for crime organizations:
(1) illegal gambling
(2) racketeering - extortion
Organized Crime and Criminals
4) high interest rate
(3) distributing illegal drugs
(4) usury or loan sharking
Organized Crime and Criminals
(5) illicit sex – controlling prostitution, pornography
(6) reselling stolen or hijacked goods
(7) controlling legitimate businesses.
Society’s Reaction to Organized Crime
Although society reacts strongly to organized crime, they also depend on it as a means to satisfying their needs – gambling, illicit sex, drugs…
Society’s Reaction to Organized Crime
Investigators struggle to obtain proof of criminal organizations’ activities and also lack the resources for nationwide operations.
Cultural fascination
Professional Offenders
Professional offenders develop the most extensive criminal
careers and are revered as the highest social status within criminal community.
Professional Offenders
doesn’t mean they do it a lot or make a living off of it
Skills: high level of skills
Status: rarity - high status
Professional Offenders
Criminal Associations
Organization
trained, apprentice, loosely organized groups
Society’s Reaction to Professional Crime
not as highly publicized as organized crime or conventional criminality.
Society’s Reaction to Professional Crime
receive preferential treatment by police because they are viewed as craftsmen in the same profession.
special treatment: respected by police
