CJ MIDTERM

Deviance

The violation of a norm

Social Norm

A rule that specifies how people are expected to behave

Norm

A rule that makes clear what behavior is expected and appropriate

Mala in se

A behavior categorized as morally wrong

Consensus Perspective

A view of crime that sees laws as the product of social agreement

Conflict perspective

A view of crime as the struggle among different groups competing for resources in society

Three components of the CJ System

Law enforcement, Courts, Corrections

Criminal Justice System

The interdependent actors, agencies- law enforcement agencies, the courts, the correctional system, victim services, at the local, state, and federal level that deal with crime

Parole

An early release from prison with certain standards while free

Probation

An alternative to jail/prison. The offender remains in the community under the courts supervision.

Victim services

Resources such as 24 hour hotline, transitional housing, counseling, and shelters for victims.

Crime prevention

Measures taken to reduce the opportunity for crime.

CC Model

One model of CJ system. Emphasizes efficient arrests and processing

DP Model

One model of the CJ system. Emphasizes individual rights

Moral Panic

When a large group of people react to exaggerated or false perceptions of crime.

Sanctions

Consequences taken to reinforce people’s conformity to a norm

UCR

An annual series of U.S statistical measures of incidence of selected crimes reported by police departments

Crimes against persons

Attacks or threats to someone’s body.

(Sexual assault, Murder, Kidnapping, Robbery)

Self report

Surveys taken by individuals who may or may not have committed a crime who have not been arrested or held accountable.

Dark figure of crime

A group of unreported, and unrecorded crimes revealed by victim surveys

Serial Murder

Killing of 3 or more people over an extended period

Mass Murder

Multiple murders that occur in one place

Spree Murder

The killing of several people in a narrow amount of time

Assault and battery

A harmful/offensive physical attack by one person to another

Robbery

A crime in which the offender takes the victims personal property with/without using or threatening force

Larceny

The completed and attempted taking of cash from one’s location

MVT

A property crime that involves the theft of a motorized vehicle

Public Order Crimes

Loitering, intoxication, panhandling, bigamy, drunk driving, weapons violations, prostitution, gambling, obscenity

Victimless Crimes

Often called crimes against public order because they don’t have a particular victim

Stalking

Willfully, repeatedly, and maliciously following, or harassing another person and making a credible threat.

Rational Choice Theory

Criminals choose to commit crime because they believe that the “pros outweigh the cons”

Positivist school

The view that criminal behavior is a product of biological, psychological, social forces out of one’s control.

Atavism

The belief that criminals are evolutionally primitive or subhuman people characterized by certain “inferior” identifiable physical and mental traits

Neurotransmitter

A chemical secreted by neurons that facilitates the transmission of information from neuron to neuron

Psychoses

Serious mental disorders that cause individuals to be out of touch with reality

Schizophrenia

A mental illness characterized by an individuals split from reality due to profound aberrations in cognitive functions

Bipolar Disorder

A major mood disorder manifested by bouts of serious depression alternating with periods of extreme elation and exaggerated self importance

Postpartum psychosis

A serious mental illness characterized by hallucinations, delusions, and obsessive thoughts about a woman’s baby

Psychopathy

A personality disorder involving specific cognitive and emotional deficits that is exhibited by a lifelong pattern of antisocial behavior for which the individual has no remorse

Intelligence

The capacity to learn or comprehend manifested by the ability to solve problems and adapt to life experiences

Moral Reasoning

Application of a set of ethical principles based on what society views as Good Vs. Bad

Social Learning Theory

Theory that behavior is learned and is maintained or extinguished based on the rewards or punishments associated with it

Strain Theory

Theory that extraordinary pressures make people more likely to commit crimes

Anomie

A feeling of alienation that leaves people feeling hopeless, rootless, cutoff, alienated, isolated, delusions, and frustrated.

Life course persistent offenders

Those who engage in delinquency at young ages and continue their criminal behavior throughout their lives

Adolescence-limited offenders

Young people who participate in antisocial behavior for a limited period of time during adolescence while maintaining school performance and respectful relationships with parents and teachers

Desistance

The cessation of crime commission

Social control theory

Theory that the individuals belief system is important in preventing the individual from getting in trouble. (Parents, Police)

Neutralization Theory

Theory that if people break the law, they overcome their feelings of responsibility through rationalization

Containment Theory

Theory that some factors that keep behavior in check are personal

Social Bond Theory

Theory detailing the social bond people have with society

Social conflict theory

View that crime is a result of the conflict between the rich powerful and the poor and powerless

Critical theory

A brach concerned with the ways in which structural conditions, and social inequalities influence crime

Feminist criminology

The application of feminist thought

Peacemaking criminology

A branch of criminology that views crime as a form of violence and urges criminology to advocate a nonviolent society

Cultural Deviance Theory

The view that adoption of negative antisocial values is learned in neighborhoods and subcultures produced criminal behavior

Social disorganization theory

The theory that explains crime by examining city neighborhood characteristics

Subculture

A group that has some of the same norms and values and beliefs as members if the dominant, mainstream culture but also other norms values and beliefs not held by society at large

Culture Conflict

Clash between the norms of conduct for one group and the norms of conduct for another group

Social process theory

The view that criminal behavior results from successive interactions with others and with society’s institutions

Victimology

The scientific study of victims

Recidivist victims

People who are victimized repeatedly

Routine activist theory

Theory suggesting that crime occurs when opportunity is available, the victim isn’t protected and the effort brings rewards. Argues that some victims daily activities make them more vulnerable than others to be victimized