Criminology Unit 2

• Norms


  The specific rules or socially acceptable standards that govern people's behaviour in particular situations
• Values


  The general principles of how we should live our lives- they tell us what is right and wrong, good and bad
• The norms in a society are linked to its values
• Moral code


  A basic set of rules values and principles held by an individual, group, organisation or society
• Formal sanctions


  The penalties that are laid down by law that can be imposed by courts or the police depending on the offence
• Deviance


  Something that is against social norms e.g tattoos
• Forms of deviance


  • Good
  • Eccentric/bizarre
  • Bad/disapproved
• Criminal behaviour


  A form of deviance that involves serious,harmful acts that are regarded as so disruptive they have laws against them e.g murder
• Actus reus


  A guilty act
• Mens rea


  An element of criminal responsibility, a guilty mind (had bad intentions)
• In some cases mens rea is not needed e.g health and safety, self defence
• Not all harmful acts are criminal e.g pollution laws on emission limits
• Not all criminal acts are particularly harmful e.g 'victimless' crimes
• Not all laws are enforced by the police e.g smoking weed
• Summary offences


  Less serious offences like speeding
• Indictable offences


  More serious offences in the crown court
• Types of offences


  • Offences against property
  • Violence against a person
  • Criminal damage
  • Sexual offences
  • Public order
  • Fraud and forgery
  • Drug offences
• The public often have a different view of what is 'actually' a crime compared to the legal definition
• Court sanctions


  • Custodial sentences
  • Community sentences
  • Financial penalties
  • Conditional discharge (avoids punishment on the condition that there is no further offending over a given period)
• Police sanctions


  • Cautions
  • Conditional
  • Penalty notice
• Aswell as punishment being imposed, the offender will have a criminal record which has further implications
• Implications of having a criminal record

  • Exclusion from certain jobs
  • Sex offenders register
  • Travel ban
  • Restriction on adoption, jury service, standing for elected office
  • Have to declare unspent convictions when applying for work claiming insurance
• Illegal in the UK but not other places: certain drugs, FGM, age of consent/drinking/driving
• Legal in the uk but not other countries: Ability to drink, gay marriage, womens right to vote
• Crime is an artificial construct invented by society
• Crime is a not a natural occurrence- there's no such thing in the wild
• Criminality is whatever society decides is criminal
• This means crime differs between societies
• Crime changes over time
• Polygamy


  The practice of having more than one partner at the same time (legally), there are two forms. Polygyny- a man has two or more partners. Polyandry- a woman has two or more partners.
• Polygyny is legal in 58 countries but polyandry is only legal in a handful, most places where polygamy is legal are muslim-majority.
• Polygamy is illegal in every other country- even many muslim countries place restrictions on it. In the UK anyone who has multiple marriages is committing bigamy and is punishable by 7 years imprisonment
• The law can vary depending on religion- the Quran permits muslim men to have up to 4 wives and this is reflected in muslim majority laws. In the USA, Mormons practised polygamy until 1890 and it continues to be practised illegally.
• Polygamy is traditional in african societies although it is sharply declining
• Adultery


  Involves a sexual act between two people, one or both are married to another person.
• Adultery is a crime in most muslim majority countries, christian areas of Africa, Philippines, Taiwan and 21 US states. Punishment varies widely from being stoned to death, caning and a monetary fine. However, it is legal in most countries including the UK and in India it was legalised in 2018
• Homosexuality


  Sexual acts between members of the same sex
• Male homosexuality is illegal in 72 countries and females in 45 countries . In 6 countries it can result in a death penalty. In some countries such as Russia, homosexuality is not illegal but the law bars 'promotion'. Many countries which do not criminalise homosexuality still do not allow couples to adopt or marry.
• Homosexuality is legal in the UK, Europe, and both americas. It is illegal in many muslim countries but in the largest it is legal.
• Many religions including christianity, islam and judaism have banned homosexuality. Countries where religion has a strong influence over law making are more likely to have laws making homosexuality a crime.