CRIM 1100 Feb 13 Part 1

Understanding Police Encounters with Weapons

• Pointing imitation weapons at police can lead to life-altering consequences.

• High likelihood of police responding lethally if they believe the weapon is real.

• Importance of context: a situation involving a 15-year-old surrounded by others complicates judgment.

• Police training responds instinctively to threats; this shapes their reaction in critical situations.

Reporting Crime Rates and Context

• Crime statistics from various years, including 2022 and 2023, help contextualize Canadian society's challenges and responses.

• Importance of understanding the dark figure of crime: unreported crimes or situations where law enforcement cannot take action.

• Data limitations: discrepancies in crime reporting based on whether police were called or whether an incident was no longer observable when they arrived.

• Understanding typologies and classifications of crime aids in grasping statistics and trends over time.

Crime Classifications in Canada

• Classification of crimes includes:

  • Violent Crime

  • Property Crime

  • Other Crime

• Shift of offenses such as mischief from 'other crime' category to property crime category in 2008 has implications for data interpretation.

• Statistics paint a picture of violent crime diminishing in certain areas, whilst property crime remains high.

Insights into Violent Crimes

• Most common violent crime in Canada is common assault, which includes:

  • Slaps, punches, kicks, shoves, bites, and hair-pulling.

  • Approximately 200,000 incidents annually classified as assault level one.

• Differentiation between assault levels:

  • Level One: Minor harm, not recognized by law as significant.

  • Level Two: Bodily harm or use of a weapon; legally recognized as severe.

• Examining the homicide statistics: a broader perspective juxtaposed with high rates in cities like Chicago.

Analysis of Property Crimes

• Theft under 5,000 (including shoplifting) is the predominant property crime in Canada.

  • Misleading data interpretations if mischief is overlooked due to its classification shift.

• Break and enter statistics indicate a shift in reporting and recognition of incidents.

• Possible reasons for declines in break and enter incidents:

  • Improved security measures.

  • Changes in police reporting or community engagement.

  • Top property crime statistics underline theft as a significant concern.

Administration of Justice Offenses

• Group category offenses, primarily focusing on bail and breach violations.

• Disturbing the peace is common, showcasing societal interactions at events and parties, affecting community welfare.

Importance of Understanding Community Crime Landscape

• Recognizing the volume of minor crimes like common assault or petty theft reveals patterns in societal behavior.

• Reflecting on crime statistics should guide future theoretical frameworks: includes understanding the reasons behind common forms of assault and theft.

Wrap-Up and Next Focus

• Participants urged to consider the impact of their exposure to these issues on their future careers in policing and law enforcement.

• Upcoming sections will delve deeper into hate crimes in the next part of the discussion.