CRIM 103 - Lecture 1, Ch. 1 and Ch. 2

Criminology

the study of the how and why of crime

Criminal Justice

the study of the systems that respond to crime

norms

subjectively socially acceptable behaviour typically based on traditions, values, and customs within a given group

deviance

behaviour that departs significantly from the norms that people set in social statuses

Crime

an act or failure to act that constitutes an offence in a given jurisdiction that may be prosecuted

Criminal

an individual who has either acted or failed to act in violation of a defined law and has been convicted of an offence

Malum in se

an act that is widely considered by the public to be harmful, damaging or detrimental to society

Malum prohibitum

an act that is defined as illegal by lawmakers, but is not wrong in itself - debaitable

Summary offences

less serious offences with a max. sentence of 2 years less a day and/or a max fine of $5000 (vandalism, shoplifting)

Hybrid offences

offences that can be pursued as summary or indictable offences, as decided by a prosecutor

Indictable offences

more serious offences with a max sentence of life in prison, no time limit on when charges can be imposed

Dark Figure of Crime

the difference between the amount of crime that occurs and the amount of crime that is reported, property crime and sexaul assults are lower reported

3 organization in the criminal justice system

Police, Courts, Corrections

Goals of the Criminal Justice system

Prevent Crime, Protect the public, Support Victims of Crime, Hold offenders accountable, Helping prisoners return to community

Uniform Crime Reporting

Rate of crime per 100,000 residents

Crime Severity Index

measures the volume of crimes reported to the police and applies weight to different types of crimes

Victimization Surveys

asking individuals if they have been a victim of crime

Self-reported crime

surveys where reponders answer if they have been engaged in crime or anti-social behaviour