Criminology Semester Test 2

What are crime trends?

The increases and decreases in the rate of a specific crime, such as murder, rape or burglary, over a period, usually a year.

What is the importance of crime statistics.

Study the behavior and motives of criminals, develop strategies to stop emerging crimes, make the public aware of the extent of crime.

What factors often effect crime trends

The economic climate, education, the average age of the victims and perpetrators.

What variables are used to calculate crime trends in south africa?

class, age, gender and region. 

What are the official sources of crimes?

Crimes reported to the SAPS ( police statistics ) that resulted in prosecutions ( court statistics ) and convictions ( correctional statistics )

What does NOT count toward the official crime statistics. 

Crimes that are not reported and crimes that do not result in prosecution. 

Who publishes the annual reports?

The commissioners of the SAPS and the Department of the Correctional Services. 

Where does SAPS publish their official statistics?

Via the Crime Research and Statistics component of Crime Intelligence. 

What is the issue with Official Crime statistics?

The do not necessarily reflect the true nature of crime, as many crimes remain unreported or fail to be processed. 

What is the “unkown crimes” refered to as in criminology.

The dark figure of crime.

What is the dark figure

The number of unreported crimes.

What is the name given to offenders who have escaped justice throughout any part of the CJS. 

Secret deviants. 

What is the first 3 steps of the Criminal Justice Process?

1) A crime is committed 2) Police investigate the crime ( Police statistics ) 3) The offender is sough and arrested.

What are the next 33 steps ( Steps 4 → 6)

4) If enough evidence is gathered, the investigator communicates with the victim and the State prosecutor ( the lawyer who acts on behalf of the State ) 5) The alleged offender is brought into the court for a hearing, 6) The court makes a decision.

What is the last stage ( Step 7 ) of the Criminal Justice Process

If found guilty, the court may punish the offender by imposing either a fine or time to be spent in a correctional facility ( prison statistics ). The crime and the offender are placed on official court records ( court statistics ). If found innocent the court will release and no statistic is made. 

What are the three problems hindering the reporting of Crime in South Africa 

Inconsistent reporting procedures, limitations of classification categories and dark figures. 

What is the inconsistent reporting procedures. 

Essentially the biased treating of situations ( eg men are often the abusers ).

What are the contributing factors that boost inconsistent reporting of crimes. 

Cultural Standards, police professionalism, the personal composition of SAPS. 

What Team did the SAPS establish in order to compile a policy on Crime Statistics. 

The National Crime Statistics Task Team (NCSTT).

What is the critical component of the Policy established by the National Crime Statistics Task Team ( NCSTT)?

Classify crime for statistical purposes. 

What is the Crime Registrar.

The custodian of crime statistics within the SAPS. Conducted extensive research on how to classify crimes.

What are the categories of community reported serious crimes?

Contact Crime, Contact related, Property related, Other serious.

What are the objectives of the Classification of Crime For Statistical Purposes (CCSP)

1) Collection and organization of crime data in a statistical format to produce valuable information for decision-making. 2) Providing a framework for the systematic analysis and product of crime statistics 3) Purification of the current classification of crime in the SAPS 4) Alignment of the CCSP in the SAPS to international Standards as stipulated in the International Classification of Crime for Statistical Purposes (ICCS)

Who developed the ICCS ( The International Standards of Crime for Statistical Purposes )

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC) developed and published the ICCS in 2015. 

What is the Purpose of the ICCS

Assist member countries in the classification of crime.

What is the AIM off the ICCS

To ensure the consistency and international comparability of crime statistics. 

What are the ICCS Category Definition Criteria?

1) Policy area in which the act occurs 2) Target of act 3) Seriousness of the act 4) Mean by which the act can be prevented.

What are the four different hierarchical levels of the ICSS, in descending order of severity.

Sections, Divisions, Groups, Classes.

What is the importance of Dark Figures.

Official Crime Statistics do not account for unreported crimes.

What are some reasons for crime not being reported in Sourh Africa thus the Dark figure of Crime. 

1) It’s supposedly insignificant 2) People are unaware a crime has been committed against them 3)The victim fears retaliation or victimization. 4)Crime is deemed personally embarrassing or shameful 5)Lack of trust in the SAPS 6)The victim takes the law into their own hands 7)Children are involved who don’t understand the issue 8) The victim wants to protect the perpetrator. 

Who records and tabulates crimes In South Africa?

Stats SA.

Which three sources are the official crime statistics derived from?

police statistics, court statistics and DCS statistics. 

What records are compiled in the police statistics?

The crime, details of how and when, who committed it, who the victim was, what injuries or losses were suffered.

Where are the reported crimes entered into?

The SAPS Crime Administration System (CAS)

When are police statistics released?

Quarterly Jan → March, April → June, July → September, October → December

What do the Court statistics include?

Only include cases where evidence was brough before the court. 

What is the Main reason for the decrease in the number of cases being brought before the court?

Absences of proper investigation and securing and recording of evidence. Court Statistics moderately lower then Police Statistics as a result. 

What statistics does the DCS Statistics count

Any cases where imprisonment was imposed. 

What are the factors that make the DCS Statistics Vary

Crime Levels, Effectiveness of SAPS, the court situation, Socio-economic factors, Labour relations, Accountability of officials within the CJS.

What are the 5 major short comings of Criminal Statistics.

Crimes not reported, Crime more likely to be reported ( Deviance amplification ), Influence of SAPS personnel, Changes in SAPS infrastructure, Social and Economic changes.

What describes the Crimes most likely reported factor that is a shortcoming of Criminal Statistics. 

Crimes that result in insurance claims are more likely to be reported, Serious crimes are more likely to be reported then trivial offences, Media reporting can amplify public willingness to report ( Deviance amplification )

What is the Influence of SAPS personnel with regards to the short comings of Criminal Statistics.

Different Police stations employ different reporting and recording processes, planned campaigns that lead to crackdowns ( escalate crimes in a certain area ), a change involving informal or community policing.

What is the changes in SAPS infrastructure with regards to the short comings of Criminal Statistics.

Some offences may be decriminalized, New offences come into being, the wide availability of technology make crime reporting easier.

What is the Social and economic changes factor with regards to the short comings of Criminal Statistics.

Readily available high value consumer good to steal, comprehensive insurance coverage and specific requirements of insurance, changes in the age distribution, a decline in close knit communities, changing in social norms and values.

What was the center for Crime Management called in 1998

Crime Information Analysis Centre (CIAC) established at a national, provincial, area and police station level to standardize the recording of police statistics. 

What is the Crime Management centre called today?

Crime Information Management and Analysis Centre (CIMAC)

What is an example of an unofficial source of crime data. 

International Crime Victims Survey (ICVS). 

What are the unofficial sources of crime statistics. 

Self-report surveys, Victimization Studies, Biographies, Observation studies. 

What is a self-report study?

Anonymous respondents, without fear of disclosure or arrest. Limited to petty crimes, often focused on juvenile criminal behavior.

What is a victimization study?

Provide more accurate data on the actual crime problem in communities.

Which two programs collect Crime Statistic date in the USA.

The Bureau of Justice Statistics, The Federal Bureau of Investigation 

What does the Bureau of Justice Statistics do?

Conducts an annual National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)m NCVS is the primary source of the information on frequency, characteristics and consequences of victimization in the USA

What does the Federal Bureau of Investigations do?

Publishes annual data under their Uniform Crime reporting programme and National Incident-Based reporting system (NIBRS). URC most sited source in USA crime statistics.

Who produces the Crime Statistics for the UK?

The Home Office and the Ministry of Justice.

What is the job of the Home Office Counting Rules?

A national standard for recorded crime.

What is the system used by the Metropolitan police in the UK called?

Home Office Large Major Enquiry System (HOLMES)

Who measures crime in the UK

Police officials and the British Crime Survey (BCS)

What is the AIM of Interpol. 

Facilitating international police cooperation. 

What is the function of interpol.

administrative body between law enforcement agencies of member countries, providing communications and database assistance. 

What is the focus of Interpol.

Assist law enforcement officials in identifying the big picture of international crime. 

What division of INTERPOL operates in South Africa?

INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) is situated in the Crime Intelligence Divisions (CID).

What are the two advantages of Victim Surveys. 

Focus on the victim, Covers a representative sample of the population in a specific geographic area. 

What are the four functions of the Victim Survey. 

1) Public perceptions on crime and safety 2) fear of crime in society 3)victims actual experiences of crime 4)the under reporting of crime ( dark figure of crime ). 

What are the three methodical difficulties when comparing Crime Statistics Cross-countries. 

1) Different definitions of specific crimes 2)Different levels of reporting and policing traditions 3) Different social, economic and political contexts. 

What is the issue with the different definitions of crimes in countries.

If the definitions of what a crime is differ - no comparison can be made.

What is the issue with reporting and different police traditions?

The level for reporting may be lower in certain countries. Such as Authoritarian rule ( citizens don’t report). Accessibility and trust in the police of the country reflect the reporting levels. 

When was the first national Victim survey conducted in South Africa. 

1998

When does Stats SA release the data of the Victims of Crime Survey (VoCS)

annually

What are the four main limitations of victim surveys. 

1) Respondents do not always recall the precise details 2) The results can be subject to sample error 3) Poor means of collecting data on crime because members of the public are reluctant to disclose such information 4) Does no record crimes against businesses, crimes against children or drugs and firearms. 

What is the plan that was created to stop and prevent crime in South Africa

The national development plan (NDP) for 2030.

What act supports the goals of the NDP.

The white paper on safety and security 2016

What is the utilitarianism viewpoint on crime

The greatest happiness principle. Punishing the wrongdoing is in the best interests of society.

What is the three steps of crime control.

Police react after a crime has been committed, courts specify punishment, correctional services ensure punishment is fulfilled.

What are the two types of deterrence?

General and Specific.

What is the aim of Specific deterrence.

To prevent re-offending once released from the correctional facility.

What is the purpose of specific deterrence.

Protect society whilst rehabilitating the offender to prevent recidivism. 

What is Recidivism?

Re-offending once released from the correctional facility.

What is the approach of General Deterrence? 

Rational Choice Theory (RCT)

What model does the RCT theory explain that individuals use when wanting to commit a crime. 

The cost and benefit model ( Benefit of crime vs the cost of punishment )

What are the three elements that allow general Deterrence to be effective?

The punishment is severe enough, the punishment is certain, the punishment is imposed swiftly.

What are some of the complications that hinder the effectiveness of General Deterrence in South Africa.

Poor police investigation, High levels of corruption, delays in criminal justice proceedings, Low conviction rate. 

What are the Four theories for preventing crime?

Routine Activity Theory (RAT), Rational Choice Theory (RCT), Crime Pattern Theory (CPT), Broken Windows Theory (BWT).

According to RAT when is a crime most likely to occur?

There is a motivated offender, a suitable target, absence of a capable guardian.

What are the levels of risk determined by ( According to the VIVA principle)

Value of the crime, inertia, visibility, Access of the target. 

What are the four viewpoints considered by the offender with regards to the RCT theory 

Value, Inertia,Visibility,Access

What is the crime pattern theory.

Posits the idea of crime generators (nightclubs, shopping malls )

What are the three elements of the Crime Pattern theory. 

Nodes, Paths, Edges

What are nodes in the Crime Pattern Theory.

Area'‘s where people travel to and from

What are paths in the crime pattern theory.

Routes people travel upon to and from nodes

What are edges in the crime pattern theory.

Locations where offenders and non-offenders intermingle.

What is the Broken window theory?

If petty crime is allowed, it suggests the idea that crime is overlooked thus incentivizing more crime. 

According to the Problem Analysis Triangle what three elements must be present for a crime to occur?

A suitable target is available, there is a lack of a suitable guardian, a motivated offender is present. 

What are crime controllers with regards to the Problem Analysis Triangle. 

Used to stop the criminal offense from occurring. 

What are managers according to the crime analysis triangle. 

Managers are always present at a place ( waiters etc )