Criminology AC 1.1

• Crime and deviance challenge accepted values and norms of behaviour
• Values are general principles or guidelines for how we should live our lives (e.g. respect for human life)
• norms are specific rules or socially acceptable standards that govern peoples behavior in situations (e.g. waiting in a queue). Norms differ depending on what society.
• norms can be explicit (laws)
• norms can be implicit (unwritten)
• deviance is the act of violating a social norm
• by law, all crime is a type of deviance, for example breaking into a car
• not all deviance is a crime, for example getting lots of tattoos
• deviance offends against norms, moral codes, and values.
• moral codes are a set of basic rules held by an individual, group, organisation. or society as a whole
• breaking a moral code would generally be considered serious in society
• the types of deviance are: unusual and good, unusual and bizarre, and unusual and bad
• formal sanctions are imposed by official bodies for breaking formal written rules
• informal sanctions are unspoken rules, people can react to these with disapproval
• positive sanctions are given as rewards for behavior, such as a medal for winning a race
• social control refers to the ways in which society seeks to control our behavior and ensure that we conform to its norms and behaviors
• criminal behavior involves serious, harmful acts that are disruptive to society and must be punished by law
• criminal behavour is any action that is forbidden by criminal law (legal definition)
• actus reus- latin for 'a guilty act'
• mens rea- latin for 'a guilty mind'
• both 'actus reus' and 'mens rea' combined leads to crime
• there are 2 exeptions for 'actus reus' and 'mens rea'
• strict liability- mens rea sometimes is not required, for example negligence when health and safety laws are broken
• self defence- this action does not involve mens rea as the individual has used reasonable force
• some argue that if society has said that an act is a crime then it becomes one (a social definition of crime)
• summary offences: less serious, tries in a Magistrates' court e.g. speeding (over 90% of all crime is tried in a Magistrates' court)
• indictable offences: more serious, tried in a Crown Court e.g. murder
• there are 4 types of formal sanctions for crime
• custodial sentence: for serious offences. Imprisonment, or detention in a young offenders institution. Sentences vary from days to life imprisonment. Life sentences usually eligible for parole after 15 years, unless the case is more serious
• community sentences are served in the community. Include probation orders, curfews, tagging, attendance in anger management courses, mandatory drug testing, treatment orders, community payback
• fines are financial penalties. The size of the fine depends on the seriousness of the offence, whether it is a repeat offence of the offender's ability to pay. Sometimes allowed to pay in instalments
• a conditional discharge involves the offender committing no further offence for a given period. If an offence is committed during this time, the court can impose a sentence for the original offence as well as the new one
• police can sometimes give sanctions to offenders in some cases where the offence is minor
• cautions are given to anyone ages 10 or over by police for minor crimes such as graffiti
• conditional cautions are where the individual must stick to certain rules and restrictions, such as going on treatment for drug abuse. If they break the conditions, they would be charged with a crime
• penalty notices are issued for minor crimes such as shoplifting or possession of cannabis. You wont get a conviction if you pay the penalty. If you disagree with the penalty notice, you can go to court instead
• other implications of committing a criminal act are exclusion from certain occupations, travel ban to certain countries of the requirement of special visas, and restrictions on adoption, jury service, standing for elected office
• crime is a deliberate act that causes physical or psychological harm, damage to property and is against the law