The Nature and Extent of Crime

Chapter 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

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

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

How Crime is Defined

Categories of Crime

Video: Philadelphia Violence

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?

Video: Discussion Questions

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

What are the Different Categories of Crime?Violent Crime Continued

Intimate violenceGreater 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.

What are the Different Categories of Crime?Public Order Crimes

ProstitutionSubstance abuse

Economic CrimesAmateur and professional thievesWhite collar crimeOrganized crime

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

Percentage of Crimes Cleared by Arrest

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.

Sources of Crime DataNational Crime Victimization Survey

Asks people about their experiences with crime

Self-Report Surveys Asks offenders themselves to report about

their criminal behaviors

Victimization

Victimization

How much crime is there, how do we measure it?

Video: Crimes Reported

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?

Video: Discussion Questions

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.

Crime Trends

Video: Violent Society

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?

Video: Discussion Questions

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

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

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?

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.