Criminology

• Socially constructed -> They don't exist as real concrete objects but are defined by ourselves and the society we live in. As such there is no one single definition which will always be seen as correct and accepted by everyone.
• Norms -> What the majority of people believe to be correct and incorrect in any situations.
• Moral Codes -> Your own individual sense of what is wrong and right, what you will never do because it goes against your morals.
• Values -> what we see as important and wish to aspire to, e.g. democracy, freedom of speech and law
• Legal definition of Crime -> An act which comprises of an actus reus (guilty act) which is usually a positive action and a mens rea (guilty mind) such as intention or recklessness.
• Strict liability offence -> An offence without a mens rea (guilty mind) but with an actus reus (guilty act).
• Deviance -> Behaviour that, while being different and against social norms, values and moral codes, is often not controlled legally.
• Types of crime: domestic abuse, hate crime, technological crime, moral crime, white-collar crime, honour crime and state crime
• Domestic abuse -> An incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading or violent behaviour, including sexual violence.
• Hate crime -> A crime, typically one involving violence, that is motivated by prejudice on the basis of ethnicity, religion or sexuality.
• Technological crime -> Crimes that use electronic and digitally based technology to attack computers or a computer network, e.g. hacking.
• Moral code -> Acts that go against social norms or moral code.
• White-collar crime -> The range of crimes that are committed by professionals whonare either in business or government.
• Honour crime -> Violent crimes or other forms of abuse that are carried out in order to protect the so-called "honour" of a family or community.
• State crime -> Illegal or deviant activities perpetrated by the state, or with the complicity of state agencies, e.g. war.
• Time - this means two different points in history - the past compared to the present
• Place - this means two different locations in the world - easiest to think of two different countries
• Culture - this means the morals and values within a society - easiest to think of different religious views across the world
• Circumstances - how a law is used according to context - why no action was taken or who did it
• Why are laws different according to place, time and culture? - crimes can become outdated but can still be listed as laws you are very unlikely to be prosecuted for breaking them. Crimes can change over time. This is because the culture, and the social norms, moral codes and values, of the country changes. This can lead to laws which seem to be against public views of what is right or wrong because a change has taken place in views of criminality.
• Crime and punishment - deterrence, rehabilitation, retribution
• Deterrence - prevents further wrong doings (for other people and yourself)

  Punishment is justified
• Magistrate decides guilt - most driving offences

  Common assault

  Shoplifting
• Jury decides guilt - murder

  Robbery

  Rape
• Summary only - normally carry a maximum sentence of 6 months imprisonment
• Indictable only - can carry up to life in prison depending on the crime committed
• In 1876 lombroso argued criminals as a seperate species, between modern and primative humans
• Scientific strength - lombroso took photographs - he was being objective (factual) which id a strength. He was following scientific methods as a key feature of science is accurate measurement
• Observstion strength - lombroso collected photographs, skulls and other physical examples. This is a strength because it supported his evidence that they were a different species
• Scientific weakness - lombroso did not take into account other reasons for appearance. This is a weakness because malnutrition, or poverty could cause facial deformities. Diseases or physiological damage to babies during childbirth could effect appearance
• Observation weakness - lombroso never properly compared them to a group of non criminals. This is a weakness because non criminals may have had similar eatures. Inbreeding caused similar physical features
• Segregation involves seperating criminals from the rest of society. This can be done through prison or by having special communities or places where they have to life. If they leave they would break the law. This works well for biological criminals who were born that way e.g. lombrosos atavistic criminals
• Segregation strength - it keeps prisoners, who cannot be rehabilitated, seperate from those in society who they are a danger to e.g. children. This will reduce reoffending rates as access to victims is greatly reduced
• Segregation strength - it allows those who are born criminald who many struggle with offending to enjoy freedom, as they are not in prison, and make a contribution to society without worrying if they will be driven to offend or fearful that they will hurt other people
• Segregation weakness - if Segregation is outside of a prison then there is no guarantee that criminals will not travel to where there victims can be found or simply change the type of person they abuse or seek to control
• Segregation weakness - it could be seen to violate the rights of criminals who may have been segregated beyond the time they would have been expected to complete a jail sentence. This could place limits on their ability to work, have a life with family and relationships
• Genetic theories are those which place a focus on the person's DNA as a marker of criminality
• DNA contains the genetic blueprint for how an organism is made - Deoxyribonucleic acid
• Extra Y chromosome - a genetic condition where 1 in every 1000 men have an extra Y chromosome. Y chromosomes are responsible for providing high levels of testosterone and give males increased muscles and bone mass
• Higher testosterone - testosterone is said to be the 'aggression hormone' due to it's association with male antisocial qualities