Topic 1.1

Question 1

Values

Answer 1

Are general principles or guidelines for how we should live our lives ~ tell us what is right and wrong

Question 2

Norms

Answer 2

Are specific rules or socially accepted standards that given people’s behaviour in particular situations

Question 3

Moral code

Answer 3

Is often used to describe a set of basic rules, values and principles held by an individual, group, organisation or society as a whole ~ may be written down such as the Police Code of Ethics

Question 4

Deviance

Answer 4

Is any behaviour that differs from normal

Question 5

Three types of behaviour

Answer 5

~ behaviour that is unusual and good

~ behaviour that is unusual and eccentric or bizarre

~ behaviour that is unsual and bad or disapproved of

Question 6

Formal sanction

Answer 6

Are imposed by official bodies such as the police, courts, schools and other institutions ~ punishments for breaking formal written rules or laws

Question 7

Informal sanction

Answer 7

Are used where the rules are not formally written down and are perhaps unspoken

Question 8

Positive sanitation

Answer 8

Are rewards for behaviour that society approves of

Question 9

Social control

Answer 9

Society seeks to control our behaviour and ensure that we confirm to its norms and behave as others expect us to

Question 10

Legal definition of criminal behaviour

Answer 10

~ actus reus ‘a guilty act’

~ mens rea ‘a guilty mind’

~ strict liability ~ the wrongful act on it’s own is enough to convict someone

~ self defence ~ not a crime if the force used was reasonable in the situation

Question 11

Social definition of criminal behaviour

Answer 11

~ not all harmful acts are in fact criminal.
Differing views ~ public often have different view of what acts are really crimes, as compared with the legal definition of crimes

~ law enforcement ~ not all criminal laws are enforced; some come low on the list of priorities for police

~ law making ~ not all acts that people think ought to be made into crimes have laws passed against them ~ can depend on who influences it such as the media + campaigning pressure groups ~ stalking didn’t become a specific offence until the Protection of Freedoms Act was passed in 2012

Question 12

Summary offence

Answer 12

Are less serious offences such as speeding and are tried at Magistrates

Question 13

Indictable offences

Answer 13

Are more serious offence such as rape or murder and are tried at Crown Court by Judge + jury

Question 14

Subject matter of the offence

Answer 14

~ violence against the person ~ murder, manslaughter + assault

~ sexual offences ~ rape, sex trafficking + grooming

~ offences against property ~ burglary, theft + robbery

~ fraud + forgery ~ frauds by company directors

~ criminal damage ~ arson

~ drug offences ~ supplying or possessing heroin

~ public order offence ~ riot + violent disorder

Question 15

Custodial sentences

Answer 15

Can be imprisonment or detention in a young offenders’ institution ~ length can vary form days up to life imprisonment for murder ~ up until 2012 courts could impose indeterminate sentences (no specific release date) if offender is danger to the public

Question 16

Community sentences

Answer 16

Served in the community rather than in jail ~ probation orders and restrictions such as curfews, anger management courses + mandatory drug testing

Question 17

Fines

Answer 17

Are finical penalties

Question 18

Discharge

Answer 18

Meaning the court can impose a sentence for the original offence as well as one for the new one

Question 19

Cautions

Answer 19

Are warnings than can be given by the police or Crown prosecution service to anyone aged 10 or over for minor crimes such as graffiti

Question 20

Conditional cautions

Answer 20

Have to stick to certain rules and restrictions

Question 21

Penalty notices for disorder

Answer 21

Issued for minor crimes such as shoplifting

Question 22

Other implications

Answer 22

~ exclusion from certain occupations ~ working with young people

~ may be placed on the Violent and Sex Offenders Register (ViSOR)

~ may be banned from travelling to certain countries or require special visas

~ may be restrictions on adoption, jury service and standing for elected office