AC1.1- Compare criminal behaviour and deviance

• Value- general principle or guidance which dictates how to live our lives, things that are valued in society.
• Norm- Rule or guideline which tells us how we should behave/act within a society.
• Deviant Behaviour- behaviour that goes against the norms and values of society.
• 3 forms of deviance:

  • Behaviour that is unusual but good (act of bravery- saving someone from drowning)
  • Behaviour that is unusual but bizarre (eccentric)
  • behaviour that is unusual and bad (harmful)
• Moral Code- refers to basic values and rules an individual, group or society follows.

  e.g. A value would be to respect human life, so norm would be not to kill.
• Actus Reus- Criminal Act
• Men’s Rea- criminal mind
• 3 Key points when it comes to crime:

  • Not everyone agrees on what should be criminal
  • Laws change based often on public opinion, or on who is in power
  • Some laws are considered so trivial they are barely policed
• Summary Offences- Less serious offences such as speeding, fraud/forgery, minor drug offences these are tries by magistrate courts
• Indictable offences- Serious offences such as murder, sexual offences, and violence against a person. They are tries at a crown court (or a supreme court is the crime is serious enough) before a judge or jury.
• Criminal or Deviant?:

  • Most acts that are criminal are also considered deviant
  • Some acts are considered deviant but not criminal
  • Crimes which are considered “real crimes” (i.e. deviant and criminal) often receive harsher sentences/sanctions especially if they cause a high levels of harm
• Custodial Sentences:

  • Usually for more serious offences e.g. imprisonment or detention centre for youth offenders institution.
  • The length of the sentence can vary from a matter of days to up to life imprisonment
  • Prisoners serving life sentences are usually eligible for parole after about 15 years.
  • up until 2012 courts could impose indeterminate sentences (which were sentences with no specific release date) if the criminal was a danger to the public
• Community Services

  • Served in the community rather than jail
  • examples include restraining orders, curfews, anger management courses, fines etc.
• Fines- financial penalties which the size of depends on the seriousness of the offence, whether its a repeat offence and the offenders ability to pay the fine

  Can be paid in instalments
• Conditional Discharge- The offender not committing further offences during a given period of time

  If a crime is committed during this period then the court is able to impose a charge for both the new and original offence

  The court mat grant unconditional/ absolute discharge where the defendant is technically guilty but where punishment wouldn’t be appropriate- not classed as a conviction.
• Police Sanctions:

  • used for minor offences
  • no need to go to court by issuing penalties, notices.
  • examples of police sanctions include cautions, conditional cautions, penalty notices for disorder
• Cautions- warnings given by the police or Crown Prosecution services to anyone age 10+ for minor crimes such as graffiti

  • intended for low-level crimes, first-time offenders and you must admit to the offence and agree to the warning
  • can be arrested if a caution isn’t accepted
  • a caution isn’t a criminal conviction bit will still used as evidence of bad character if you go to court for another offence.
• Conditional Caution- you have to stick to certain rules and restrictions such as going for treatment for drug abuse. If conditions are broken you could be charged with a crime.
• Penalty notices for disorder- issues for minor crimes such as shoplifting or possession of cannabis.

  • Won’t get a conviction if penalty is paid.
  • If you disagree with the penalty notice you can go on trial instead