AC1.1

• Crime


  An illegal act that is punishable by law
• Deviance


  Behavior that goes against social norms and values
• Deviance


  Is disapproved of and is likely to lead to negative informal sanctions
• Crime


  Can lead to formal sanctions
• Formal sanctions


  Imposed by official bodies e.g. the police, courts, schools etc. They can include fines, exclusion, getting fired, even imprisonment
• Informal sanctions


  Not formally written down and are "unspoken". They can include frowning upon such behavior, refusing to speak to them, telling them off etc.
• Actus reus


  Guilty act
• Mens rea


  Guilty mind
• Strict liability: in some cases, mens rea is not required - the wrongful act on its own is enough to convict someone e.g. Speeding
• Self-defense: assaulting someone can be justified if the force used was reasonable in the situation
• Types of criminal offences in the UK


  • Summary offences (less serious)
  • Indictable offences (more serious)
• Social definition of crime

  An act that is a wrong against the community or society as a whole
• Non-court sanctions for criminal behaviour

  • Caution by the police
  • Conditional cautions by the police
  • Penalty notices (fines)
• Court sanctions for criminal behaviour

  • Custodial sentences (prison)
  • Community sentences
  • Fines
  • Discharge (dismissal)
• Magistrates court


  Deals with less serious offences and can issue a maximum of up to 6 months in prison and can issue fines
• Crown court


  Deals with more serious offences and has unlimited sentencing power
• Norms

  Behavior that is expected by society. However, norms vary among different societies eg. dress codes
• Mores (moral values)


  Expectations within society which are criticized if broken eg. not cheating on one’s partner.
• Values


  Feelings based on close communities, such as families. Values may include helping a person who is old or pregnant.