Criminological Theory

What counts as a crime

What should a theory do

Explain the phenomenon and predict what we should expect to see (guiding policy is debated)

Legal elements of a crime

Actus reus- voluntary act

Means rea- intend to commit a crime

Causation- should have known there would be negative effects

Note

Motive is not a legal element

Types of offences

Infractions- small

Misdameaners- usually drugs

Felonies- usually violent

Wobblers- could be felony or misdameaner

Decriminalization

Conduct is still prohibited, but less police response and such

Criminal Case

Violating a state or federal law

Civil Case

Private party issue (breach of terms) and is only preponderence of the evidence

Types of crimes

Cyber, white collar, conventional, organized, hate, and consentual crimes (victimless)

Measuring crime

Count- raw number of crimes

Rate- count divided by the population denominator (usually 100K)

Crime funnel

Victimization→known to police→arrest→convictionsW

Ways to count crime

HCR (obsolete), NIVRS, NCVS, and Self-report