Crim Unit 2

• Criminal Behaviour


  Behaviour which is prohibited by the criminal code
• Deviance


  Norms, moral codes & values that are unusual, uncommon, or out of the ordinary in some way
• Understanding


  • How criminality & deviance is defined
  • Acts that are criminal
  • Acts that are deviant
  • Acts that are both criminal & deviant
  • The implications (consequences) of committing a criminal &/ or deviant act
  • The impact of reporting on public perceptions of crime & deviance
• Criminal Behaviour


  • Social definition
  • Legal definition
  • Formal sanctions against criminals
  • Variety of criminal acts
• Deviance


  • Norms, moral codes & values
  • Informal & formal sanctions against deviance
  • Forms of deviance
• Legal Definition of Crime


  Behaviour which is prohibited by the criminal code
• Actus Reus


  The defendant must have done something that the law forbids
• Mens Rea


  The defendant must have done this with bad intentions
• Strict Liability


  The wrongful act on its own is enough to convict someone, even if the defendant didn't intend to do wrong
• Self-Defence


  Assaulting someone in self-defence isn't a crime, so long as the force used was reasonable in the situation
• Social Definition of Crime


  Behaviour or activity that offends the social code of a particular community
• Non-Court Sanctions


  • Cautions
  • Conditional cautions
  • Penalty notices
• Court Sanctions


  • Custodial sentences
  • Community sentences
  • Fines
• Formal Sanctions


  Penalties laid down by the law that can be imposed on those convicted of a crime
• Types of Deviant Behaviour


  • Admired behaviour
  • Odd behaviour
  • Bad behaviour
• Informal Sanctions


  Punishments used where the rules of society aren't formally written down
• Formal Sanctions


  Penalties imposed by official bodies/authority: the law, police, courts, groups of people, schools, & other institutions
• Positive Sanctions


  • Tax incentives
  • Tax holidays
  • Awards & certificates of recognition/ titles
  • Certificates of merit
  • Subsidies
  • Direct payments
  • Government grants
  • Prizes
  • Smiles
  • Applause/ standing ovation
  • Pats on the back
  • Compliments
  • Embraces/ hugs
  • Gifts
  • Verbal approval
  • Shaking hands
• Negative Sanctions


  • Penalties & fines
  • Incarceration (prison)
  • Legal fines
  • Custodial sentences
  • Community sentences
  • Discharge
  • Conditional cautions
  • Cautions
  • Embarrassment
  • Shame
  • Ridicule
  • Sarcasm
  • Criticism
  • Disapproval
  • Social discrimination
  • Exclusion
• Court Sanctions


  • Custodial sentences (prison, youth offender's unit)
  • Community sentences (probation orders, curfews, community payback, fines, criminal behaviour order, ASBO)
• Police Sanctions


  • Cautions
  • Conditional cautions
  • Penalty notices (for disorder)
• Some acts may be deviant but not criminal, some acts are classed as criminal but may not be deviant, and some acts are both criminal & deviant
• Examples of Criminal, Deviant, and Both


  • Criminal: parking on double yellow lines, using a mobile phone while driving, speeding/ running a red light
  • Deviant: smoking, swearing, shouting in libraries
  • Both: burglary, naked sunbathing, theft, illegal downloads
• Types of Criminal Offences


  • Summary offences (less serious, magistrate court)
  • Indictable offences (more serious, crown court)
• Categories of Criminal Offences


  • Violence against the victim
  • Sexual offences
  • Offences against property
  • Fraud & forgery
  • Criminal damage
  • Drug offences
  • Public order offences
• Some acts are considered criminal but not deviant because although they break a law, society doesn't necessarily blame the offender for doing what they did
• Norms


  Specific rules or socially accepted standards that govern people's behaviour in particular situations
• Values


  Generalised principles/ guidelines for how we should live our lives – what behaviour is acceptable/ unacceptable
• Moral Codes


  A set of basic rules, values & principles (ethics) held by an individual, group, organisation, or society as a whole
• The norms of a society are linked to its values, and they tell us what is right & wrong, good & bad
• Moral Panic


  Mass movements based on the false/ exaggerated perception that some cultural behaviour or group of people is dangerously deviant & poses a threat to society's values, interests & safety
• The media consistently voices certain concerns about a particular crime


  It can lead to possible changes in the priorities of the police & government – including new laws being introduced
• The media can imply that certain types of crime are increasing


  This doesn't always match up with the official statistics, leading to an increased fear of becoming a victim of crime
• The media plays an important role in the formation & transmission of stereotypes


  This leads to a greater level of fear & treatment towards these 'criminals'
• Major criminal events are world-changing


  They produce new priorities & policies, including Acts of Legislation, heightened security, and counter terrorism measures
• Social Construction


  Something that's been made or defined by society
• What counts as criminal is simply whichever acts a society defines as criminal, and this changes over time and varies across cultures
• Behaviours become crimes through a process of social construction, and changes in the legal status of a behaviour are often brought about by social movements
• What counts as criminal


  Whichever acts a society defines as criminal
• Different societies give different meanings - one society may label something a criminal act, whereas another society/ culture may not