Characteristics of crim behaviour

• What is a crime ?

  An act that violates a law.

  actus reus (guilty act) and men’s rea (guilty mind)

  it is a social construct

  depends upon laws in different societies.
• office of national statistics (ONS) two categories of crime


  victim based crime

  crime against society
• What is Blackburn's definition of crime?


  Something that has negative consequences for the individual and the community
• Farr & Gibbons (1990) 7 types of crime

  Property predatory

  property fraudulent

  interpersonal violence (general)

  interpersonal violence (sexual)

  Transactional vice

  order disruption

  folk/mundane crime
• Property predatory crime 


  Persons are involved in attempting to or actively taking the personal property of others without permission
• Property fraudulent crime 


  persons are involved in deceit or manipulation with purpose of converting property or services of others to their own use
• Violent crime includes offenses such as murder, assault, and robbery, which involve the use or threat of force against another person.
• Property crime refers to offenses such as burglary, theft, and arson, which involve the unlawful taking or destruction of property.
• Interpersonal violence (general)


  Persons are involved in actions that threaten or cause actual personal harm
• Interpersonal violence (sexual)


  persons involved in actions that threaten or cause actual personal harm and contain a sexual element
• Transactional vice 


  Persons are involved in victimless offences where there is a willing exchange or goods or services
• Order distribution 


  Persons involved in actions where there is no direct victim but concerns are raised about potential victims
• Folk/mundane crime


  Fosters public ambivalence and the public generally regards such acts as an inconvenience or a nuisance rather than a crime