CRIME AND DEVIANCE

Define deviance

Deviance refers to acts that do not align with the norms and expectations of a particular society or social group. It is culturally determined and can be perceived differently across time and place. Deviant acts can be positively sanctioned (rewarded) or negatively sanctioned (punished).

Define crime

Crime is any act that breaks the law and is punishable by formal control. It includes any antisocial conduct that is legally prohibited, ranging from minor to serious offenses.

Define profiling

Profiling involves making inferences about the physical, habitual, emotional, psychological, and vocational characteristics of criminals. In a law enforcement context, profiling may also involve categorizing individuals based on race, ethnicity, or religion.

Define delinquency

Delinquency refers to criminal acts committed by young people, often involving antisocial or non-violent behaviors. It is typically a collective response rather than individual.

Define recidivism

Recidivism is the tendency of individuals previously convicted of crimes to relapse into criminal activity, usually measured by re-arrest, reconviction, or return to prison within three years after release.

Differentiate between crime and deviance

Crime involves acts that break formally documented laws, while deviance involves acts that violate societal norms. Crime is punished through legal sanctions, while deviance may be penalized by informal sanctions.

List the forms of deviance

Forms of deviance include crime, delinquency (youth crimes), antisocial behavior, and legally deviant acts that are no longer enforced.

List the characteristics of crime

Characteristics of crime include: (1) Crime is a deviant act, but not all deviant acts are criminal; (2) Crime is relative to time and place; (3) Power structures in society influence what is considered criminal; (4) Crime statistics can be manipulated for political purposes.