Criminal Justice Midterms

What is the field of criminology like?

an interdisciplinary field; several academics involved.

What method do you use to study criminal behavior?

Scientific Method; for studying the nature, extent, cause, and control of criminal behavior.

What do criminologists do?

study crime statistics, and create valid/reliable measures of criminal behavior.

How do criminologists create valid measures of criminal behavior?

Formulate techniques = collect and analyze criminal activity

Develop survey instruments = unreported crime

Design methods = find cause of crime

What theories do criminologists come up with?

They develop theories of crime causation: psychological, biological, sociological.

what is victim-precipitated crime?

[homicide] one person killing another. Ex. robbery gone wrong.

white collar crime

Usually someone high in status committing the crime through deceit, trickery, and concealment. Ex. theft, fraud, embezzlement, false advertising

penology

the correction and control of known criminal offenders

Classical criminology

idea: criminals choose to commit. Crime can be controlled if potential criminals fear punishment.

Positivist criminology

idea: criminals are BORN; not made. Predicts and explains social phenomena

Sociological criminology

looks at diff. crime rates— why are they different in different parts of the world? Also looks at social inequality.

What is the response to crime in sociological criminology like?

(question) why is the legal response to crime is shaped by race, ethnicity, social class, gender and etc.

Critical criminology

idea: Crime is a product of capitalism. Focuses on emphasizing human rights, state crime, and corporate crime

Conflict criminology: conflict theory

human conflict = crime. believes that society is inherently unequal and is made up of different groups constantly competing for power and resources.

[Conflict Criminology] People argue that laws and the criminal justice system are primarily designed to…

protect the interests of the powerful, wealthy, and dominant groups in society, while controlling or punishing the less powerful.

What does Critical Criminology critique?

critiques the fundamental structures of society that produce crime and inequality.

How do criminologists define crime?

If you violate a social rule.

[How criminologists define crime] what is a crime?

An act or an omission that is punishable by a law. The law may vary based on public opinion, values in your area, and by those in diff. social and political positions

[how criminologists define crime] what happens when you become subject to punishment?

punished from the state (like jail or fines) or socially (like being ostracized or losing status).

what is deviance?

a broad spectrum of behaviors ranging from most socially harmful (murder) to relatively inoffensive (cross-dressing).

what happens when a deviant act becomes a crime?

it is deemed socially harmful; it’s then defined prohibited, and punished under criminal law

what is a criminal act?

people who violate the rules that are set in place— are subject to punishment

(Deviance) Consensus View:

Crime is what the law defines; everyone agrees it's bad; laws apply equally.

(Deviance) Conflict View:

Law is a tool of the ruling class; crime is political; "real crimes" (like racism) aren't outlawed; law controls the poor.

(Deviance) Interactionist View:

Acts become crimes because society says they are; criminal labels change lives.

The Code of Hammurabi (main pts.):

Originated from Babylonia, focuses on social & commercial regulations, punishes by affecting social status

Mosaic Law (main pts.)

Originated from the Hebrew Bible, focuses on religious/moral laws, punishes by divine retribution.

Common Law (precedent)

a law is based on prior court decisions that serves as an example for deciding similar cases in the future.

Common Law (mala in se)

committing an act that’s inherently wrong (ex. rape, murder.)

Common Law (mala prohibita)

an act that has been made illegal based on the laws in place (ex. speeding)

Contemporary Criminal Law (felony)

most serious crime, typically punishable by a prison sentence of one year or more, or death.

Contemporary Criminal Law (misdemeanor)

less severe crime, still carries legal consequences

Process of justice

structured and legal. Starts from initial contact, through arrest, trial, and post release.

Ethical issues in criminology (what to study)

keep research independent of outside interference

Ethical issues of criminology (whom to study)

include everyone!

Ethical issues of criminology (how to study)

fully inform research subjects and maintain confidentiality.

What is the UCR (Uniform Crime Report) program?

run by the FBI since 1930, that collects crime statistics voluntarily from over 18,000 law enforcement agencies across the U.S.

What is the main purpose of UCR?

To provide reliable crime statistics for law enforcement, researchers, media, and the public.

What is a key weakness of the UCR?

doesn’t include unreported crimes

What is NIBRS?

It's the National Incident-Based Reporting System, an incident-based system developed in the 1980s to collect more detailed crime data from law enforcement agencies.

Why was NIBRS developed?

To replace the UCR method and improve the overall quality of crime data, helping law enforcement analyze trends, allocate resources, and develop prevention strategies.