Test 1 Flashcards
Crime
Behavior, either by act or omission, defined by statutory or common law as deserving punishment or penalty.
Substantial criminal law
Legislation sets out the meanings and parameters of those acts to make them crimes.
Practice
Implementation of laws by police departments and prosecutors influence which crimes are prioritized or downplayed.
Courts
Judicial powers shape understanding and responses to crime, including warrants, bail, evidence, and punishments.
Politics
Play a role in defining crime through their support for law and order and influence on legislation
Media
Powerfully shapes and frames how crime is understood by shaping public opinion through coverage.
Public opinion
Definitions of crime can change over time based on shifting public perceptions and attitudes
How is crime defined?
Law, practice, courts, politics, media, public opinion
Framing
How the media shapes the meaning and perception of issues, including crime
White Collar Crime
Crimes committed by individuals in positions of power or authority for personal or corporate gain.
Examples include cybercrime, healthcare fraud, embezzlement, bribery, money laundering, and regulatory violations.
Cost and Impact of White Collar Crime
Can lead to health risks, compromised safety, environmental damage, organizational failures, and job losses
Federalism
The division of power between the national and regional (state and local) governments.
Misconceptions of Crime Measurements
Crime statistics often narrowly focus on street or visible crimes, neglecting white-collar crimes and others.
Official crime counts may understate the actual amount of crime due to underreporting by the public and lack of awareness.
Many crimes, such as fraud or family violence, are often neglected in official crime statistics.
Individual Crime
Explanations focus on personal characteristics, motivations, and intentions of offenders.
Structural Crime
Explanations look at broad societal forces, such as race, economics, and social structures, influencing crime
Mens Rea
Refers to criminal intent, the mental state of the offender when committing a crime
One Bad Apple Theory
Suggests that when an individual in a group is guilty of a crime this is due to them being the one bad sole individual of that group rather than there being an overarching issue with the system or other members of the group.
Criminology
Focuses on understanding why people commit crimes by examining structural explanations of society
Social Forces
Wealth, poverty, race, gender, built environment, and entertainment influence crime and perceptions of crime
Criminology vs. Psychology
Criminology explains societal factors, while psychology focuses on individual law-breaking
Rational Choice Theory
Individuals decide to commit crimes based on cost-benefit analysis.
Deterrence Theory
Aims to change behavior through laws and punishments.
Routine Activity Theory
Crime occurs when a motivated offender, suitable target, and absence of capable guardian converge in time and space
Pseudo-biological Explanations
Discredited as fake science, e.g., eugenics, racism; led to dangerous ideologies and actions
Real Biological Factors
Interact with sociological factors; biology alone does not determine criminal outcomes.
Psychological Factors
Influence criminality but do not predestine outcomes
Social Structure and Societal Condition
Significant in understanding criminality and crime patterns; criminals are made, not born.
Social Disorganization Theory
Suggests crime is promoted in neighborhoods lacking social institutions and resources
Wedding Cake Model
Emphasizes that the criminal justice system is not equally focused on all types of cases. Instead, it suggests that resources and attention are disproportionately allocated based on the significance and public interest of each case. This model highlights the stratification and differential treatment of cases within the criminal justice system
Crime Control Model
Prioritizes the efficient and effective control of crime and the protection of public safety. Its main focus is on apprehending, prosecuting, and punishing offenders swiftly and decisively.
Due Process Model
Prioritizes the protection of individual rights and liberties, ensuring that the legal process is fair and just for all involved. Its main focus is on ensuring that individuals accused of a crime are afforded their constitutional rights and that the state operates within legal boundaries.
