Unit 2 - AC1.1 - Crime and Deviance Flashcards
What is the social definition of crime?
Behaviour or an activity that offends the social code of a particular community
What was Mower’s definition of crime?
“An anti-social act”
What was Blackburn’s definition of crime?
“Acts attracting legal punishment […] offences against the community”
What’s the legal definition of crime?
“An act (or sometimes a failure to act) that is deemed by statute or by the common law to be a public wrong is therefore punishable by the state in criminal proceedings.”
What is the ‘Actus Reus’?
The guilty act of the offence
What is the ‘Mens Rea’?
The guilty mind/thoughts behind the offence
What is strict liability? Give an example
Where the defendant has the ‘actus reus’ but no the mens rea - Food and hygiene regulations
Under the legal defences what are the two reasons why a person wouldn’t be found guilty?
Insanity and Self defence
What does insanity mean under the legal defences?
A defense based on the idea that the defendant was unable to understand what he was doing
What does self defence mean under the legal defences?
Reasonable force to defend themselves or another
Why is crime difficult to define under the social definition?
Crime is defined differently in different societies and at different times
Why is crime difficult to define under the law definition?
It’s problematic because it isn’t a scientific discipline, there are many ifs and buts.
What is a formal sanction?
Sanctions that are officially recognised and enforced by an authority to promote and encourage social norms and values.
Give 4 examples of court-based formal sanctions:
Custodial sentences, Community service, Fines, Discharge
Give 3 examples of non court-based formal sanctions:
Cautions, Condtional cautions, Penalty notices
Name 3 criminal acts:
Offences against property, Offences against people, Homicide
Name 3 types of offences against property:
Burglary, Theft, Criminal damage
What are the maximum sentences for Burglary, Theft, and Criminal damage?
Burglary: 14 years custodial sentence
Theft: 7 years custodial sentence
Criminal damage: 10 years custodial sentence
Name 3 types of offences against people:
Assault and battery, Actual bodily harm, Grievous bodily harm (with intent)
What are the maximum sentences for Assault and battery, Actual bodily harm, and grievous bodily harm (with intent)?
Assault and Battery: 6 months custodial sentence
Actual bodily harm: 5 years custodial sentence
GBH(with intent): Life sentence
What are the three types of criminal offences?
Summary offences, Either way offences, Indictable offences
Name three examples of summary offences:
Low level motoring offences, minor criminal damage, Common assault
How will summary offences be punished?
They can only be tried in a Magistrates’ court and normally carries a maximum sentence of 6 month’s imprisonment or a £5,000 fine.
Name three example of either way offences:
Theft, Assault and GBH, Possession of controlled drugs
How will either way offences be punished?
Depending on the level of seriousness of the crime it will either be trialed in Magistrates’ court or Crown court.
Name three examples of indictable offences?
Murder, Rape, Possession of a firearm
How will indictable offences be punished?
Because this is the most serious category of offence, the maximum sentences are long. Many cases carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and they must first appear before the Magistrates’ court and then the Crown court.
What is the definition of deviance?
Any violation of what society considers ‘acceptable behaviour’. Deviant behaviours go against social norms, moral codes, and social values.
What is a social norm? Give an example
Social expectations that guide behaviour and explain why people act in the way they do - Wearing shoes in public
What is a moral code? Give an example
Morals or good ways of behaving. Breaking a moral code would be considered serious in society - Intentionally hurting someone
What are social values? Give an example
Rules shared by most people in a given culture. It’s what people feel should happen, they are more general guidelines and ideas than normal behaviours - Being respectful and polite
What are the 4 important social values highlighted by the Government?
Mutual respect and tolerance, Individual liberty, Rule of law, Democracy
What are the three types of deviant behaviour?
Admired behaviour, Odd behaviour, Bad behaviour
Give an example of admired deviant behaviour:
Civil rights protestors/Risking your own life to save others/Runing a 100 mile ultra-marathon
Give an example of odd deviant behaviour:
Living with 50 cats/ Walking round barefoot/Not brushing your teeth in the morning
Give an example of bad deviant behaviour:
Murder/Theft/Sexual assault
What are the difficulties in defining deviance?
The norms can vary between different societies/cultures and can vary at different times
What sanctions are there for deviance?Give examples:
Informal sanctions - Frowning or giving someone a dirty look, Name calling, Socially excluding people
Name three offences that are criminal but not deviant:
Illegally streaming or downloading media content, A 17 year old having an alcoholic beverage, Speeding a few miles over the limit
Name three offences that are criminal and deviant:
Murder, Sexual assault, Theft, Assault, Drink driving, Hate crime
Name three offences that are not criminal but are deviant:
Walking around barefoot, Picking your nose in public, Not brushing your teeth in the morning, Living with 50 cats
Name 3 similarities of crime and deviant behaviours:
-Both tend to receive some sort of negative sanction/punishment
-Both tend to be viewed negatively by the majority of society
-They are similar as neither are fixed, what is considered criminal and deviant is constantly changing over time and across cultures
Name 3 differences of crime and deviant behaviours:
-The type of sanction they receive usually differs - crimes receive formal sanctions and deviance receives informal sanctions
-They differ primarily in their definitions
-The level of severity and harm - crime tends to be more severe than deviance
