2. How Crime is Defined
Consensus View
The criminal law is a set of rules, codified
by state authorities, that expresses the
norms, goals, and values of the vast
majority of society
Conflict View
The law is the instrument that enables the
wealthy to maintain their position of
power, and control the behavior of those
who oppose their ideas and values, or who
might rebel against the unequal
distribution of wealth
3. How Crime is Defined
Interactionist View
Criminal law is structured to reflect the
preferences and opinions of people who
hold social power in a particular legal
jurisdiction…there want to control
behaviors they view as immoral or wrong
4. How Crime is Defined
Though consensus, conflict, and
interactionist views of crime differ,
they generally agree that:
Criminal law defines crime
The definition of crime is constantly
changing and evolving
Social forces mold the definition of crimes
Criminal law has a social control function
7. Video: Discussion
Questions
Does the Philadelphia crime-fighting
unit seem to be working?
What are the potential benefits of
using an “elite” unit to fight
violence?
What are the potential risks of
using an “elite” unit to fight
violence?
8. What are the Different
Categories of Crime?
Violent Crime
Gang violence
Multiple murder(s)
Mass murders
Type of multiple killer who kills many victims in a
single violent outburst
Spree killers
Type of multiple killer who spreads the
murderous outburst over a few days or weeks
Serial killers
Type of multiple killer who kills over a long period
of time but typically assumes a “normal” identity
between murders
9. What are the Different
Categories of Crime?
Violent Crime Continued
Intimate violence
Greater danger is faced by those we
know
Hate crimes
Criminal acts directed toward a particular
person or members of a group because they
share a discernible racial, ethnic, religious, or
gender characteristic.
10. What are the Different
Categories of Crime?
Public Order Crimes
Prostitution
Substance abuse
Economic Crimes
Amateur and professional thieves
White collar crime
Organized crime
11. Sources of Crime Data
The Uniform Crime Report (UCR)
Compiled by the FBI, this national survey
compiles criminal acts reported to local police
The acts are called
Part I crimes:
Murder
Rape
Burglary
Robbery
Assault
Larceny-theft
Motor vehicle theft
13. Sources of Crime Data
National Incident-Based Reporting System
Program that collects data on each reported crime
incident
Requires local police agencies to provide at least a
brief account of each incident and arrest, including
the incident, victim, and offender information
There are expanded crime categories, such as
blackmail, embezzlement, drug offenses, and
bribery
Includes all the offenses that occur in an incident,
rather than only the most serious offense.
14. Sources of Crime Data
National Crime Victimization Survey
Asks people about their experiences with
crime
Self-Report Surveys
Asks offenders themselves to report about
their criminal behaviors
18. Video: Discussion
Questions
Do most crimes get reported to the
police?
What factors make the difference in a
crime being reported?
Why is it important to report a crime?
Why don’t people report crime?
19. Alcohol and Drugs
Alcohol
Alcohol use is suspected of being involved
in half of all U.S. murder, suicides, and
accidental deaths.
Drug Use
As drug use increases, the crime rate
increases. The surge in the violent crime
rate between 1985 and 1993 has been tied
directly to the crack cocaine epidemic that
swept the nation’s largest cities.
21. Video: Discussion
Questions
Does the Philadelphia crime-fighting
unit seem to be working?
What are the potential benefits of
using an “elite” unit to fight
violence?
What are the potential risks of
using an “elite” unit to fight
violence?
22. Crime Patterns
The Ecology of Crime
Day, season, and climate
More crimes occur during the summer
Regional differences
Social Class, Socioeconomic
Conditions, and Crime
Explaining the class-crime relationship
Instrumental crimes
Inner city, high poverty areas
23. Crime Patterns
Age and Crime
Young people commit
more crime
Gender and Crime
Men commit more crime
Explaining Gender Differences in the
Crime Rate
Physical strength, hormonal influences
Socialization and development
Cognitive differences
Feminist views
24. Crime Patterns
Race and Crime
Minority group members involved in a
disproportionate share of crime
True differences? Bias?
System bias
Cultural bias
Structural bias
Is convergence
possible?
25. Crime Patterns
Chronic Offending and Crime
What causes chronicity?
Policy implications
Three-strikes
laws require that convicted felons
spend a significant portion of their
sentence behind bars?
Truth-in-sentencing
Laws requiring convicted felons to
spend a significant portion of their
sentence behind bars.