Unit 1: Why Crime Flashcards
Crime is…
- wrong against society proclaimed by law
- if committed under certain circumstances, punishable by society
- can change over time and space
Violent
Crimes against persons
-murder, sexual assault, assault, robbery
Property
Those crimes in which goal of the offender is some form economic gain or the damaging of property
- larceny (taking something without force)
- burglary (unlawful entry with attempt to commit crime)
- auto theft
Public order
Outlawed activities that are considered contrary to public values and morals
Ex: public drunkenness, prostitution and gambling
White collar crime
Business-related Crimea commited by an individual or bussiness to obtain a personal or bussiness advantage (nonviolent)
-fraud or embezzlement (made by legit bussiness)
Organized crime
Illegal acts by illegal organizations usually for economic gain
-street gangs and mobs
High tech/cyber crime
Crime directly related to computers
Criminology
Study of the causes and control of crime
- field of criminology contains many diff theories as to why people commit crimes
- ted bundy
- rob blagovaveic
Theory
An explanation of a happening or circumstance that is based on observation, experimentation and reasoning
-crimin. Observe facts and their consequences to develop theories about what will occur when a similar fact pattern happens in the future
Choice theory
People commit crimes because they choose to
- person weighs the benefits of the crime versus the costs
- benefits are greater then the person more likely to commit crime
Biological theories
-physical features are related to criminal behavior
-sloping foreheads
-extra fingers, toes and nipples
-excessive body hair
If have then inferior and more likely to commit crime due to these features
-this has been descredited
Biocriminology
Study of roles of genetic and neurophysiological variables as they relate to criminal behavior
XYY chromosome theory
Idea that violent behavior in males can in part be attributed to the presence of an extra Y chromosome
-supermales: higher conviction rates for violent crimes
Psychological theories
focusing on abnormalities such as personality or mental disorders, which may have been brought on by negative early childhood experiences or difficulties with socialization
Sociological theories
Social determination: relations, social interactions, social expectations, and pressures exerted by peers and institutions not free will, biology, or psych determine criminal behavior
