UNIT 2 Crime - Key Terms

Crime

Refers to an offence that is punishable by law.

Law

Refers to a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behaviour.

Victim

Refers to a person who is harmed, injured or killed because of a crime, accident or other event or action.

Punishment

Refers to the process whereby someone faces a penalty as retribution for an offence they have committed; it could be physical (such as being withheld in prison) or financial (such as a fine).

Criminology

Branch of social science that studies crime, criminal behaviours and criminal.

Crimes against the person

Refers to criminal acts that involve threatening, harassing or injuring another person or depriving them of their freedom.

Crimes against property

Refers to criminal acts that involve the unlawful interference, damage, theft or destruction of someone else's possessions, including buildings, vehicles, belongings or intellectual property.

Victimless crime

Refers to a criminal act that is consensual in nature, where there is no direct harm or unwilling participant involved, such as certain drug use or prostitution offenses.

White-collar crime

Refers to criminal acts of a generally non-violent nature, perpetrated in order to obtain money, to avoid losing money, or to gain some types of personal, professional or political advantage.

Corporate crime

Refers to the use of illegal or unethical actions by corporations or individuals within a business setting, often involving offenses such as fraud, corruption or environmental violations.

Hate crime

Criminal acts committed against an individual or group based on their race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or other protected characteristics, motivated by prejudice, bias or hate.

Organised crime

Structured and ongoing criminal business that involves multiple individuals or groups collaborating to engage in illegal activities or financial gain or exerting control over certain illicit markets.

Serious offence

Considered severe in nature, typically involving significant harm, violence or a significant threat to public safety or societal wellbeing.

International crime

Crime that violates the international laws agreed to within the United Nations Charter.

Transnational crime

Crimes that have actual or potential effects across national borders.

Illegal drug trade

Refers to the illegal global trade of substances that are subjected to drug prohibition laws. This can involve the cultivation, manufacturing, distribution and sale of substances.

People trafficking

Refers to the illegal transportation of individuals across borders, typically for financial gain, bypassing immigration controls and endangering the lives and wellbeing of those being smuggled.

Criminal gangs

Organise groups involved in illegal activities, often engaging in violence and operating through a hierarchical structure.

Stigma

Refers to being disgraced based on a particular quality or circumstance.

Retribution

The act of punishing someone as a form of justice or repayment for a wrongdoing they have committed.

Deterrence

The use of punishment or the threat of punishment to dissuade individuals for engaging in illegal or undesirable behaviour.

Rehabilitation

The process of helping individuals convicted of crimes to reform, reintegrate into society, and lead law-abiding and productive lives.

Societal protection

The implementation of measures and strategies aimed at safeguarding the wellbeing, safety and interests of the broader community by preventing or minimising harm caused by individuals who pose a threat, usually through incapacitation.

Restoration

Approach or process of repairing the harm caused by a wrongdoing, focusing on healing, reconciliation and addressing the needs of both the victim and the offender.

Recidivism

The tendency or likelihood of a previously convicted individual to engage in criminal behaviour again after their release or after the completion of a sentence.