Characteristics

• crime is a social construct-a social problem,crime is a result of illness
• not a true definition of crime

  definition of crime can vary between cultures and over time
• Farr and Gibbons


  7 categories of crime
• Property predatory crime


  persons are involved in attempting to or actually taking the personal property of others without permission

  Eg-Burglary,Car theft
• Property fraudulent crime


  persons are involved in deceit with the purpose of converting property or services of others to their own use

  Eg-Fraud,bribery
• Interpersonal violence general


  persons are involved in actions that threaten or cause actual personal harm

  Eg-murder,assault,kidnapping
• Interpersonal violence sexual 


  persons are involved in actions that threaten or cause actual personal harm and contain a sexual nature

  Eg-rape,sexual assault
• Transactional vice


  persons are involved in 'victimless offences' where there is a willing exchange of goods and services

  Eg-prostitution,drug sale
• Order disruption


  persons are involved in actions where there is no direct victim,but concern is raised about potential victims

  Eg-disorderly conduct,rioting
• Folk/mundane crime


  persons are involved in actions that can range from minor rule violations.More serious-inconvenience-not a crime

  Eg-Fishing without a license,load regualtions
• Office of national statistics(ONS)

  -Victim-based crimes

  -Crimes against society
• Blackburn


  any act that attracts legal punishment.

  Crime is something that has negative consequences for individuals or the community and is disapproved by society and/or is a violation of social rules.
• Lemert


  compared a range of different societies and concluded that murder,rape and theft are universally commended.
• Dark figure


  crimes not reported
• Walker et al


  only 42% of all crimes are reported in the UK
• Crimes may depend upon context

  sometimes breaking the law can be seen as a good thing.

  If a law is unfair,protesting against it or intentionally breaking it might be seen as more moral than following it.

  Eg- Gandhi,broke rules he thought were unjust,he got arrested several times,according to the laws at the tmie he was a criminal.However today very few people would argue that Gandhi should be considered a criminal