Criminology Chap 15

Comparative Criminology

the study of the similarities and differences between the criminal justice systems of different countries; the cross-national study of crime. The study of crime and crime control across multiple social contexts

Ethnocentrism

One’s own culture as a benchmark to judge all other patterns of behavior. Assumption that one country’s methods are universally applicable.

Transnational crime

Offense that occurs across national borders and has a significant impact on other countries. Leads to human rights violations and the undermining of structures.

Dodd-Frank Act

Anti-fraud law which focuses on financial crime and securities fraud. Encourages to report misconduct. Rewards all whistleblowers. No right to bring lawsuit on behalf of government. Guarantees anonymity to any whistleblowers whom a lawyer represents.

False Claims Act

Anti-fraud act prohibiting inaccurate claims to the government. Encourages to report misconduct. Only rewards first whistleblower. Allows whistleblowers to continue a lawsuit without the government’s assistance.

Difficulties with investigating transnational crime

Differences in legal jurisdictions, lack of resources & training, victim protection, cybercrimes, cultural and societal differences.

Human smuggling

Bringing noncitizens into the US by deliberating immigration laws & unlawfully transporting/harboring noncitizens. It is a gateway crime.

Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA)

Combat human trafficking to protect victims, prosecute traffickers, and prevent trafficking through public awareness campaigns. PROTECTION, PREVENTION, and PROSECUTION.

Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2003

Strengthened protections for victims of human trafficking. Criminal penalties, civil remedies, family protections, law enforcement assistance, T-Visa eligibility, annual reporting, Senior Policy Operating Group (group within executive branch to coordinate activities related to human trafficking).

1882 Chinese Exclusion Act

First major law to restrict immigration in the US. Banned Chinese laborers from immigrating for 10 years. Residents had to carry a certificate IDing status and were denied citizenship.

Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (McCarran-Walter Act

Ended Asian Exclusion, created a preference system, added Guam to US definition for nationality purposes, strengthened federal powers, deportation for certain reasons like illegal gambling, drug trafficking, prostitution, fraud, illegal voting, and criminal convictions.

Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004

Restructured US intleligence community. Created Director of National Intelligence to oversee and coordinate intel gathering. Goal was to improve intelligence sharing and counterterrorism efforts.

Terrorism

Premeditated, politically motivated violence. Targeting of noncombatants by subnational groups or clandestine agents. General consensus is criminal violence intended to intimidate a population or coerce a govt. or international organization.

Main distinction is political motivation or social ideology.

Nationalist terrorist

Someone who uses violence to achieve political goals based on sense of national identity. Usually by targeting a government they perceive as oppressive or illegitimate. Freedom fighters.

Religious terrorist

Influenced by religious beliefs and identity. Higher power has sanctioned and commanded the use of violence for the greater glory of the faith.

State-sponsored terrorism

Terrorist violence carried out with the active support of national governments provided to violent non-state actors. Sponsoring through funding, training, supplying weapons, logistical and intelligence assistance, and hosting groups within borders.

Left-wing terrorism

Motivated by ideologies. Aim of overthrowing current capitalist systems and replacing them with communist/socialist societies.

Right-wing terrorism

Far-right ideologies. Ultranationalism, neo-Nazism, anti-communism, neo-fascism, ecofascism, ethnonationalism, religious nationalism, anti-immigration, anti-semitism, anti-government sentiment, patriot movements, sovereign citizen beliefs. Overthrowing governments and replacing them with right-wing regimes.

Anarchist Terrorists

Violence to promote anarchist beliefs and advance movements.

Domestic Terrorism

Unlawful force or violence by a group or an indivdual based in and operating in the US w/o foreign direction.

U.S Code definition of activities of domestic terrorism

These activities involve acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the US or any state. Intimidation, influencing a policy decision, affect conduct of government, assassination/kidnapping, occurring within jurisdiction of US.

Sovereign citizen movement

Anti-government individuals. Claim to not be subject to government laws and regulations, often asserting that they have their own identity under common law. They typically reject the legitimacy of federal, state, and local authorities.

International Terrorism

Unlawful force or violence by an individual or group with a connection to a foreign power. Actions transcend national boundaries.

Alien Enemies Act

Passed 1798. Grants the President wartime authority to deport or detain residents of enemy countries during war or/threatened invasion.

Invoked in War of 1812, WW1, and WW2.

Cyberterrorism

Form of terrorism that makes use of high tech, for planning and carrying out terrorist attacks. Targets the virtual world.

Investigating agencies include the FBI and, US Secret Service.

National Infrastructure Protection Center

Fed unit protected critical infrastructure information and computer systems. Detect, deter, prevent, assess, warn against, respond to, and investigateillegal acts.

GovNet

Secure, wide-area network infrastructure that connects govt agencies and departments to share services. Facilitates transfer of info between agencies and other stakeholders and provides online services to the public.

Bioterrorism

Intentional release or dissemination of biological agents.

Patriot Act or Uniting America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act

Surveillance, info sharing, funding, penalties, tech. Increased authority over these areas.

Homeland Security Act

Established the Department of Homeland Security. Goals of preventing terrorist attacks, reducing US vulnerability, minimizing damage from attacks, and investigating and prosecuting said acts.

National Strat for countering Domestic Terrorism

Distribution and understanding of info, prevent recruitment and mobilization, disruption and deterring domestic activity, confronting long-term contributors.

National Strat for Combating Terrorism

IDing and stopping threats before they get to the US.

Gilmore Commission

Assessed US ability to respond to terrorist attacks involving weapons of mass destruction. Active from 1999-2003. Established National CounterTerrorism Center. Examines response capabilities at the federal, state, and local levels.

Hart-Rudman Commission

Panel of experts reviewed US national security needs in 21st century. Responsible for the recommendations for NHSA, oversight committee.

Bremer Commission

AKA National Commission on Terrorism. Assessed prior to 9/11. Tasked with evaluating the terrorist threat and developing strategy to combat it.

Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO)

A foreign organization that engages in terrorist activity that threatens the security of U.S. nationals or the national security of the U.S. and that is so designated by the U.S. Secretary of State.

Requirements for FTO designation

Threaten security of US nationals or US itself. Unlawful for a person to provide funding/material support. Possible denial of visas/entry to US.

No Fly List

Individuals prohibited from boarding commercial flights at the US. Maintained by Terrorist Screening Center and used by TSA.