The Social Construction of Crime

• What is the difference between deviance and crime?

  • Deviance refers to behaviours that is contrary to the norms and values of a society but are not necessarily against the law–the concept of deviant behaviours changes over time.
  • Crime is defined as "an act or omission that is prohibited by criminal law."
• The Social Construction of Crime


  The notion that legal status of behaviours is not determined by the behaviour itself but is result of the social response to the behaviour.
• Moral Entrepreneurs


  Individuals, groups, or organisations who seek action against certain groups of people or certain behaviours and bring pressure on legislators to enact criminal statutes.
• Criminologists Conduct Historical Analyses To:

  1. The factors involved in the definition of behaviours as criminal.
  2. An increase or decrease in the severity of the criminal law.
  3. The response of the criminal justice system.
  4. The factors that influenced the repeal of a criminal law, resulting in the decriminalisation of certain behaviours.
• Criminologist researched conduct historical studies of criminal law in an attempt to what?

  To understand how the social, economic, and political environment may influence legislation.