Test 1

Question 1

Crime

Answer 1

Behavior, either by act or omission, defined by statutory or common law as deserving punishment or penalty.

Question 2

Substantial criminal law

Answer 2

Legislation sets out the meanings and parameters of those acts to make them crimes.

Question 3

Practice

Answer 3

Implementation of laws by police departments and prosecutors influence which crimes are prioritized or downplayed.

Question 4

Courts

Answer 4

Judicial powers shape understanding and responses to crime, including warrants, bail, evidence, and punishments.

Question 5

Politics

Answer 5

Play a role in defining crime through their support for law and order and influence on legislation

Question 6

Media

Answer 6

Powerfully shapes and frames how crime is understood by shaping public opinion through coverage.

Question 7

Public opinion

Answer 7

Definitions of crime can change over time based on shifting public perceptions and attitudes

Question 8

How is crime defined?

Answer 8

Law, practice, courts, politics, media, public opinion

Question 9

Framing

Answer 9

How the media shapes the meaning and perception of issues, including crime

Question 10

White Collar Crime

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

Cost and Impact of White Collar Crime

Answer 11

Can lead to health risks, compromised safety, environmental damage, organizational failures, and job losses

Question 12

Federalism

Answer 12

The division of power between the national and regional (state and local) governments.

Question 13

Misconceptions of Crime Measurements

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

Individual Crime

Answer 14

Explanations focus on personal characteristics, motivations, and intentions of offenders.

Question 15

Structural Crime

Answer 15

Explanations look at broad societal forces, such as race, economics, and social structures, influencing crime

Question 16

Mens Rea

Answer 16

Refers to criminal intent, the mental state of the offender when committing a crime

Question 17

One Bad Apple Theory

Answer 17

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.

Question 18

Criminology

Answer 18

Focuses on understanding why people commit crimes by examining structural explanations of society

Question 19

Social Forces

Answer 19

Wealth, poverty, race, gender, built environment, and entertainment influence crime and perceptions of crime

Question 20

Criminology vs. Psychology

Answer 20

Criminology explains societal factors, while psychology focuses on individual law-breaking

Question 21

Rational Choice Theory

Answer 21

Individuals decide to commit crimes based on cost-benefit analysis.

Question 22

Deterrence Theory

Answer 22

Aims to change behavior through laws and punishments.

Question 23

Routine Activity Theory

Answer 23

Crime occurs when a motivated offender, suitable target, and absence of capable guardian converge in time and space

Question 24

Pseudo-biological Explanations

Answer 24

Discredited as fake science, e.g., eugenics, racism; led to dangerous ideologies and actions

Question 25

Real Biological Factors

Answer 25

Interact with sociological factors; biology alone does not determine criminal outcomes.

Question 26

Psychological Factors

Answer 26

Influence criminality but do not predestine outcomes

Question 27

Social Structure and Societal Condition

Answer 27

Significant in understanding criminality and crime patterns; criminals are made, not born.

Question 28

Social Disorganization Theory

Answer 28

Suggests crime is promoted in neighborhoods lacking social institutions and resources

Question 29

Wedding Cake Model

Answer 29

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

Question 30

Crime Control Model

Answer 30

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.

Question 31

Due Process Model

Answer 31

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.