characteristics

• what is the definition of crime?

  there is no set definition of criminal behaviour, crime usually results from mental illnesses, however there are classification systems to help us define what counts as crime.
• what are the 5 classification systems?

  1. types of crime (farr and gibbons)

  2. victim/no victim

  3. intention

  4. issues
• what are the 7 types of crimes proposed by Farr and Gibbons?

  1. predatory property crime

  2. property fraudulent crime

  3. order disruption

  4. interpersonal violence (sexual)

  5. interpersonal violence (general)

  6. transactional vice

  7. folk crime
• Property predatory crime

  Persons are involved in attempting to or actually taking the personal property of others without permission e.g. burglary, robbery and car theft.
• Property fraudulent crime

  Persons are involved in deceit or manipulation with the purpose of converting property or services of others to their own use e.g. embezzlement, fraud and bribery.
• order disruption

  persons are involved in actions where there is no direct victim, but concern is raised about potential victims e.g. resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, loitering and rioting.
• interpersonal violence sexual

  threatening or harming someone sexually e.g. sexual assualt
• interpersonal violence general

  threatening or harming someone e.g. murder
• transactional vice

  no direct victim, willing exchange of goods e.g. prostitution
• folk crime

  regarded as inconvieniences rather than criminal behaviour e.g. fishing without a licence
• victim/no victim?

  different methods are used by the government to have insight and collect data into crimes committed, the victims and their experience and patterns e.g. ONS
• what does the ONS do?

  collects data on crime and separates them into two categories

  1. victim based crime

  2. crimes against society
• what is a statistic from the ONS on anti social behaviour (ASB) in 2016 September in England and Wales?

  ASB - 167,193
• intention?

  when a defendant is charged with a criminal offence the prosecution must prove that the defendant both committed the act (actus reas) and had the mental element of intent (mens rea).
• what is criminal negligence?

  reckless disregard for the safety of another e.g. leaving a sharp knife near a child without supervision
• lucy letby - are the managers guilty of crime?

  it was argued that the hospital management could've done more to protect the victims/patients when alarm was raised
• what is the debate for intention?

  1. argued that intent matters, whether you committed a crime accidentally or deliberately

  2. intent does not matter, its the outcome/impact that's important
• what are some issues with defining crime?

  1. underreported

  2. social construct

  3. depends on context
• underreported

  ONS - is limited, doesn't display the amount of crime committed, only reported

  Walker et al - found 42% of all crimes experienced in the UK were actually reported to the police (taken from British Crime Survey)
• crime is a social construct

  what is considered crime changes from culture and time, we cant generalise crime.

  
  

  a universal crime is murder however forced marriage is seen as normal in varies cultures.

  
  

  smoking inside used to be legal but is now legal, similar with homosexuality 1967 which was finally legalised.

  
  

  rosa parks was considered a criminal however in todays society she wouldn't be - can be seen as crime is beneficial.
• crime depends on context

  smashing a car window is seen as a crime, however it may be done to save a baby trapped in the car.

  
  

  majority of people have committed a crime, can we really class these people as criminals? e.g. jaywalking.