Legal Studies HSC : Nature of crime

Meaning of crime

An act or failure to act that causes injury or damage to people or property that is punishable

by the state.

Categories of crime

Offences against the person, against the sovereign, economic offences, drug offences, driving offences, public order offences, preliminary crimes.

Define what a summary offence is.

Minor criminal offences that are dealt with quickly in a lower court by a judge or magistrate, without a jury. Many are covered by the Summary Offences Act 1988 (NSW).

Define what an indictable offence is.

Serious criminal charges such as murder, armed robbery, and drug trafficking that are typically tried by a judge and jury in higher courts. They are found in the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW).

Parties to a crime

Principal in the first degree, principal in the second degree, accessory before the fact, and accessory after the fact.

Factors affecting criminal behaviour

Psychological factors, social factors, economic factors, political factors, genetic factors, self-interest.

Social crime prevention

Attempts to deal with the underlying social factors that may lead to criminal behaviour, such as poor education, poor home environment, and early contact with the police.

Situational crime prevention

Aims to reduce the incidence of the crime by making it more difficult, or unlikely, for criminal behaviour to occur.

Role of police powers in investigation process

Investigate, arrest, interrogate, gather evidence on behalf of state to a court.