Criminology Exam 1

What is the definition of criminology?

The study of making and breaking criminal laws, and society’s reaction to breaking those laws.

How does criminology differ from criminalistics?

Criminology focuses on the social aspects and causes of crime, while criminalistics refers to the scientific techniques used to investigate and analyze evidence from crime scenes.

What are the advantages of comparative research in criminology?

It tests similarities of crime in different places and analyzes the correlation of crime with economic development or urbanization.

What are the disadvantages of historical research in criminology?

It relies on incomplete historical records, and legal definitions and reporting methods change over time, complicating long-term statistical comparison.

What are some advantages of using biographies in criminological research?

Hypotheses can be tested on larger samples and provide detailed insights into individual experiences.

What is the primary focus of cohort studies in criminology?

Cohort studies collect data at an early age for the members of a cohort and then follow them into adulthood.

What is one major advantage of using surveys in criminology?

Surveys are an efficient and cost-effective method for collecting data from large populations.

What is a significant disadvantage of using observation as a research method in criminology?

Observation can be time-consuming and may raise privacy concerns.

What do official reports in criminology provide?

They offer large-scale, readily available data across long periods and allow for the analysis of trends and patterns in the justice system.

What is one disadvantage of experiments used in criminology?

Experiments may lack real-world validity due to artificial settings, and there are significant ethical limitations when studying criminal behavior.

How do Gottfredson and Hirschi define crime?

Acts of force or fraud undertaken in pursuit of self-interest, providing easy gratification and involving little skill or planning.

What are some advantages of Schwendingers' definition of crime?

It encourages compassion toward understanding criminal behavior and promotes restorative justice practices.

According to Conklin, how is crime defined legally?

An act that violates the criminal law and is punishable by the state.

What is the actus reus in the context of crime?

The physical act or conduct that constitutes a crime.

What does mens rea refer to in criminal law?

The mental state or intent behind committing a crime.

What is the consensus perspective of law, as defined by Durkheim?

It characterizes society as having a collective conscience, where shared values and norms dictate laws.

What does the conflict perspective, as proposed by Marx, emphasize regarding the law?

It emphasizes that society is characterized by conflicts between groups with competing interests, beliefs, and values, and law reflects power.

What is 'mala en se'?

Acts that are universally recognized as wrong or evil by nature, such as murder and robbery.

What does 'mala prohibita' refer to?

Acts that are considered wrong because they are prohibited by law, such as drug use and gambling.

What are the Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) primarily used for?

Monitoring trends in crime rates over time and investigating geographic variations in crime rates.

What is the formula for calculating the crime rate?

Crime rate = (crimes reported/population) x 100,000.

What are some advantages of the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS)?

It collects detailed data on a variety of offenses and provides consistent definitions across time and place.

What does the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) measure?

It measures crimes against people and households, including reported and unreported victimizations.

What is the relationship between age and crime based on UCR data?

Youth are overrepresented in arrests, particularly among violent crimes, peaking between ages 17 and 19.

How is gender statistically related to crime?

75% of arrests are male, with larger ratios of male perpetrators in more serious crimes.

What does the 'chivalry hypothesis' suggest?

It suggests that women are less likely to be arrested for crimes compared to men.

How does socioeconomic status correlate with crime?

Low education levels and marginal employment are related to higher crime rates.