Ac1.1 Compare criminal behaviour and deviance

• Norms refer to specific rules of expectations in society about what Is socially acceptable.

  Depend upon social context and social factors.
• Moral codes


  A code of ethics with the expectation that you will follow them and adhere to them
• Moral codes


  • Dependent upon social institutions, such as education, the government or the criminal justice system
  • Expectation of desirable ways to behave with individuals who deviate from these being subject to formal and informal sanctions
• • Values refers to what people in society believe is the right thing to do within a society
  • Reflection of social norms and what is seen as acceptable ways to act in a given situation
  • Subject to change - general guidelines about how we should live our lives
• Deviance

  • Any behavior that differs from the normal
  • Behavior that is good and unusual
  • Behaviour that is bizarre and unusual.
  • Behaviour, that is unusual and bad.
• Formal and informal sanctions can be used against deviance

  • Formal= imposed by official bodies eg schools may exclude pupils for bullying
  • Informal= not formally written down eg telling them off
• Positive sanctions= rewards for behaviour that society approves of e.g medals for bravery, can be formal and informal
• Social control= all sanctions are a form of social control, they ensure conformity
• legal definition of criminal behaviour

  an act regarded as so disruptive that the state must intervene by creating a law on behalf of society to forbid them and punish them by law
• actus reus

  a guilty act
• mens rea

  a guilty mind
• strict liability= some cases don't need a mens rea and the guilty acy is enough such as speeding or health and safety laws
• Self defence= have an actus reus and mens rea but it is not a crime in a reasonable situation
• social definition= against it societies norms, serious acts, not all harmful, wrong to society, not all harmful acts are criminal
• People socially have differing views on what 'really' counts as a crime
• law enforcement= not all laws are enforced, may spend more time on more serious crimes
• law making = influence from media, campaigns and big businesses, laws change to reflect public opinion, other times they don't
• summary offences

  less serious

  magistrates

  speeding
• indictable offences

  more serious

  crown court

  murder
• subject matter of the offences:

  • violence against a person= murder
  • sexual offences= rape
  • offences against property= robbery
  • fraud and forgery= embezzlement
  • criminal damage= arson
  • drug offences= supplying drugs
  • public order= riot and violent disorder
• formal sanctions against criminals- any penalty imposed by law or police
• court sanctions

  • custodial sentences= serious offences e.g. imprisonment, detention in young offenders institution
  • community sentences= community rather than jail e.g. probation orders, restrictions (curfew, anger management) fines are financial penalties
  • discharge=
  • conditional= let go if they don't commit an offence during a time period
  • unconditional/absolute discharge= dependant if guilty but punishment is inappropriate
• Police sanctions

  • Cautions- warnings given by police or Crown prosecution service. Anyone 10 or over for minor crimes e.g graffiti
  • Conditional cautions- stick to certain rules/restrictions and if you break it you could be charged with a crime e.g going on treatment for drug abuse
  • Penalty notices for disorder- pay the penalty and you won't be convicted
  • Informal sanctions- deviant acts e.g shaming and name calling