AOS2: CRIME

Crime

refers to an offence that is punishable by law

law

refers to a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or government institutions to regulate behaviour

victim

a person who is harmed, injured or killed because of a crime, accident or other event or action

punishment

whereby someone faces a penalty as retribution for an offence they have committed it could be physical (such as being withheld in prison) or financial (such as a fine.)

crime is a product of social processes

cannot exist without a label = defined and redefined based on social norms and is relative

crimes against a person

criminal acts that involve threatening, harassing, or injuring another person depriving them of their freedom

crimes against a property

unlawful interference, damage or theft or destruction of someone else’s possessions including buildings, vehicles, belongings, or intellectual property

victimless crime

illegal behaviour but does not violate or threaten the rights of anyone else, there is no direct harm or unwilling participant involved

white collar crime

non violent crime, perpetuated to obtain money, gain some types of personal, professional or political advantage

corporate crime

illegal and unethical actions by corporations or individuals within a business, fraud and corruption

hate crime

against an individual or group based on their race, ethnicity, religion, motivated by prejudice, bias or hate

organised crime

structured and ongoing criminal business = illegal activities for financial gain or exerting control over certain illicit markets.

international crime

criminal activities that occur across national borders, involving individuals or organisations from different nations. serious violations of international law

examples of international crime

drug trafficking, cybercrime, human trafficking, and terrorism

the most common principle offences in 2024 - 2025

acts intended to cause injury with 98,530 offenders (29%) illicit drug offences with 47,550 offenders (14%) theft with 35266 offenders (10%) offences against justice with 32,081 offenders (9%)

terrorism

violent acts or threats intended to create fear, panic and intimidation among people

key goal of terrorism

spread fear and disrupt society by targeting innocent civilians or critical infrastructure

retribution

refers to the act of punishing someone as a form of justice or repayment for a wrongdoing they have committed

rehabilitation

refers to the process of helping individuals convicted of crimes to reform, reintegrate into society and lead law abiding and productive lives

incarceration

imprisonment, the act of putting or keeping someone in prison

recidivism

refers to the tendency or likelihood of a previously convicted individual to engage in criminal behaviour again after their release or after the completion of a sentence (reoffending)

range of factors that lead people to commit crimes

factors that contribute to a person’s behavioural choices but it does not suggest that these factors cause behaviour

societal factors

inadequate housing, low income, lack of educational/employment opportunities

personal factors

disorders that affect impulsivity (adhd, fasd), addiction, bullying, discrimination, isolation, exclusion

familial

loss of a family member (divorce, death, abandonment), parental dysfunction (addiction, mental illness, criminal behaviour), domestic violence, abuse, neglect.