Criminology CH 1

conflict crimes

activities that are not usually considered crimes, although they are legally defined as such (procuring the services of a sex worker)

consensus crimes

activities are generally considered very harmful; therefore, there is strong support for sanctioning and controlling them.

conventional crime

illegal activity committed by individuals or small groups, involving some degree of indirect or direct contact (e.g. robbery, motor vehicle theft, and break-and-enter)

crime

a socially constructed defining certain behaviours as requiring formal control and social intervention

crime rate

the number of offences in a category recorded in a fixed ratio, such as per 100,000 people.

criminologist

a behavioural scientist who specializes in identifying, classifying, and describing criminal behaviour.

criminology

an interdisciplinary science that studies criminal behaviour, crime causation, crime prevention, and the punishment and rehabilitation of offenders.

decriminalization

the reduction or removal of criminal penalties attached to an act without legalizing it

deviance

behaviour that violates a social or moral norm but is not necessarily prohibited by law, (e.g. butting in line at a supermarket or certain sexual practices)

etiology

the study of the origin or causes of a phenomenon

evolutive

when applied to crime, the idea that what comprises crime can change, taking different forms and meanings over time.

indictable offence

a serious offence such as assault, theft over $5,000, robbery (with or without a firearm), or murder.

interdisciplinary approach

In criminology, the integration of knowledge from various disciplines to formulate explanations or theories of criminal behaviour

non-conventional crime

organized crime, political crime, environmental crime, cybercrime—usually defined as illegal activity by international law, but due to its unconventional nature, and because such crime cannot be readily explained by the customary references to the personality of the offender, it may be more difficult for the criminal justice system to pursue

penology

the study of how crime is punished

relative

when applied to crime, the idea that what is defined as crime can vary with time and location

summary offence

a less serious offence, such as theft over $5,000, impersonating a police officer, or taking a motor vehicle without consent.