Week One Notes

Question 1

what are the 4 ways to define crime?

Answer 1

legalistic
political
sociological
psychological

Question 2

explain a legalistic view of crime.

Answer 2

crime is human conduct in violation of the criminal laws
if no law not criminal

Question 3

explain a political view of crime.

Answer 3

crime is a result of criteria built into law from powerful groups, used to label undesirable forms of behavior as illegal
serves the interest of politically powerful

Question 4

explain a sociological view of crime.

Answer 4

crime is an antisocial act that’s repression is necessary for the preservation of social order
crime = offence against human relationships

Question 5

explain a psychological view of crime.

Answer 5

crime is a form of social maladjustment which can be seen as a difficulty than an individual has in remaining in harmony with their social environment.

Question 6

what are the 3 forms of law?

Answer 6

1. criminal
2. civil
3. administrative

Question 7

describe criminal law.

Answer 7

regulated actions that have potential to harm interest of the state

Question 8

explain the 3 types of criminal offences.

Answer 8

indictable = serious crimes
summary = minor crimes
hybrid = dual procedure, either tried as indictable or summary

Question 9

explain civil law.

Answer 9

enforces private rights and arrangements between individuals
contracts

Question 10

explain administrative law

Answer 10

regulates daily business activities
warnings and fines

Question 11

in common law what are incomplete crimes called? explain.

Answer 11

inchoate crimes
- attempted crimes

Question 12

what are the 3 perspectives on criminality?

Answer 12

consensus
pluralist
conflcit

Question 13

define consensus perspective on criminality.

Answer 13

most members of society agree on what is right or wrong
not common in diverse nations such as Canada

Question 14

what are the 4 principles of the consensus perspective?

Answer 14

1. most believe in core values
2. law reflects collective will of the people
3. all people are equal under the law
4. criminals are a unique subgroup

Question 15

explain the pluralist perspective on criminality.

Answer 15

different social groups have their own respective sets of beliefs, interests, and values

most agree on usefulness of law, law = peacekeeping

Question 16

what are the 4 core principles of the pluralist perspective?

Answer 16

1. many social groups with their own beliefs
2. general agreement on usefulness of law
3. legal system free of petty disputes
4. best interest of society represented in law

Question 17

explain the conflict perspective on criminality.

Answer 17

conflict is a fundamental aspect of social life that can’t be fully resolved.

coerce disempowered to comply with rules established by those in power

laws = tools of powerful to keep others in line.

Question 18

what are the 5 principles of the conflict perspective on criminality?

Answer 18

1. different social groups with different values
2. each group = different meaning of right v wrong
3. conflict between groups = inevitable
4. group conflict is centered on exercise of political power
5. law is a tool of the powerful, furthers their interest

Question 19

what are the 3 elements of a crime?

Answer 19

1. criminal procedure
2. court
3. criminal court

Question 20

what are the two necessary components of a crime?

Answer 20

actus reus
mens rea

Question 21

define the actus reus.

Answer 21

physical element of the crime
the act or attempted act

Question 22

define the mens rea.

Answer 22

the guilty mind
intent behind criminal act

Question 23

what are the 4 factors regarding crime and deviance?

Answer 23

1. cultural relativity
2. historical relativity
3. contextual relativity
4. gender relativity

Question 24

what was Hagans Pyramid?

Answer 24

a way to understand and categorize different types of crime based on how society views them.

Question 25

explain the layers of Hagans Pyramid.

Answer 25

bottom = social diversion
- major disagreement on if the act is criminal

second layer = social deviations

third layer = conflict crimes

top layer = consensus crimes
- everyone agrees the act is criminal

Question 26

define mala in se

Answer 26

crimes or actions that are wrong in themselves
consensus crimes

Question 27

define controversial crimes

Answer 27

crimes where society doesn’t know if its classified as a crime or not

Question 28

define mala prohibita crimes?

Answer 28

crimes and acts that are wrong by prohibition, not wrong itself but illegal

Question 29

define deviant behavior.

Answer 29

human activity that violates social norms

Question 30

define crime.

Answer 30

violation of the law

Question 31

define delinquency.

Answer 31

violations of criminal law and misbehavior by YOUNG people.

Question 32

define criminology and who coined it?

Answer 32

Paul Topinard 1889

study of crime, the cause of crime, criminals, and criminal behavior.

Question 33

define criminologists.

Answer 33

someone who is trained in the field of criminology and studies crime, criminals, and criminal behavior.

Question 34

define criminalist.

Answer 34

specialists in the collection and examination of physical evidence of a crime

Question 35

define criminal justice professionals

Answer 35

people who do the day-to-day work of the criminal justice system

Question 36

define a theory.

Answer 36

series of interrelated propositions that attempt to describe, explain, predict, and control events

Question 37

define general theories.

Answer 37

attempts to explain all forms of criminal conduct through one approach

Question 38

define an integrated theory.

Answer 38

explanatory perspective that compares concepts drawn from different sources