Social Deterrence

crime

a deviation from formal social norms and is subject to formal penalties

types of crime

violent, property, victimless

violent crimes

Acts against people in which death or physical injury results

ex. murder, assault, rape, robbery

property crimes

act that threatens property owned by individuals or by the government

ex. theft, shoplifting, embezzlement, burglary etc.

victimless crimes

illegal act in which there are no readily apparent victims

ex. prostitution (mutual consent), gambling, drug use

social panic

a state where a social group or community reacts negatively and in an extreme or irrational manner to unexpected changes

How does the media fuel social panic around crime and deviant behavior?

Exaggerating Stories

Highlighting Rare Events

Making Small Problems Seem Bigger

How does age relate to crime and arrest statistics?

Arrests increase from adolescence to young adulthood

Declines with age

Separate systems for youth and adults accused of the same crimes

How does gender relate to crime rates?

Most crimes are committed by males

Women make up about ¼ of offenders, mostly for property crimes

How does social class influence crime rates and reporting?

White-collar crime (non-violent crimes committed by high social classes or professional positions, often involving financial gain) is underreported and hard to assess

Lower socio-economic classes represent most arrests and imprisonment due to economic, educational, and social disadvantages

Which racial and ethnic groups are disproportionately represented in the justice system?

USA: African Americans and Hispanics

Canada: Blacks and FNMI (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit)

hate crime

crime committed to intimidate, harm or terrify a person or group

motivate by hate towards a certain group

What is the trend regarding hate crimes in Canada?

Most are non-violent and vastly underreported.

Which group is most targeted by hate crimes in Canada?

blacks

Which religious groups are most targeted by hate crimes in Canada?

Jewish and Muslims are the most targeted.

why are certain minority communities underreported

feel that they are not advocated for and little point

role of the criminal justice system

society’s formal response to crime

role of the police in the criminal justice system

maintain order by enforcing society's laws

Why can the police no longer effectively monitor activities

sheer number of people and limited resources

general perception of police officers

at constant risk and often feel undervalued for their work

role of the courts in the criminal justice system

they determine a suspect's guilt or innocence

what happens in a courtroom

There is competition between lawyers (prosecutors and defense), with evidence, questioning, and final arguments being made

Who determines the verdict (final decision) in a court case?

Either a judge or a jury

What is the judge’s role in the courtroom?

monitors and upholds legal proceedings

correctional system

designed to punish or deprive a person who has been convicted of a crime

retribution

imposes a penalty on the offender based on the premise that the punishment should fit the crime

social protection

protecting society when an offender is incapable of further offenses through imprisionment

rehabilitation

wants to return offenders to the community as law-abiding citizens

deterrence

reduce criminal activity by instilling a fear of punishments

death penalty

executing an individual for their crimes after being found guilty

restorative justice

involves the victim and community as active participants in the justice process to reconcile offenders with those they have harmed

focus on accountability and understanding the impact of their crime

What is required from the offender in Restorative Justice?

offender must acknowledge the wrongs committed and repair the harms caused by their actions

Where is Restorative Justice originated from

Canada’s Aboriginal community

Who does Restorative Justice focus on?

focuses on young offenders with the hope of reintegrating them into society

sentencing circle

includes the judge, prosecutors, offender, victim, families, elders, and any affected community members

emphasizing the equality of all parties.

school suspension

when students are temporarily removed from school for a specific period (1 day to 20 days) due to behaviour issues

applies to actions at school, school activities, or anything affecting the school environment

Only the principal can suspend a student

school explusion

when a student is removed from school for an unfixed period of time

either from their own school or the entire school board

What happens before expulsion is decided?

suspension first while expulsion is being considered

Does the school offer support to the expelled student?

Yes, the school must provide opportunities for continued education and counseling.

Who decides if a student will be expelled?

The principal recommends expulsion but only the school board can make the decision to expel a student