Similarities and Differences

Nature of Acts: Both crime and deviance can be characterized as acts or omissions.
- Examples:
- Criminal and Deviant Act: Rape is classified as both.
- Criminal Omission: Failure to stop at a red light is a criminal act of omission.
- Deviant Omission: Not giving up your seat to an elderly person is a deviant omission.
Sanctions: Both can lead to informal sanctions from society.
- Examples:
- Individuals committing rape may face social shunning (a crime).
- Engaging in prostitution may also result in shunning, though it's considered deviant rather than criminal.
Variability: Both crime and deviance can vary based on time and place.
- Examples:
- Before the Sexual Offences Act 1967, homosexuality was considered both criminal and deviant.
- In Iran, homosexuality is still both criminal and deviant, punishable by death.

Legality:
- Crime: A crime is defined as an action that is against the law.
- Example: Rape is an offense under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
- Deviance: Deviance may or may not involve illegal actions.
- Example: Prostitution is not illegal if both parties are consenting and over 18.
Punishment:
- Crime: Crimes are always punishable under law.
- Example: Rape is punishable under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 with a maximum life sentence.
- Deviance: Deviance might not be punishable by law.
- Example: Prostitution, under legal conditions, is not punishable.
Perception of Acts:
- Most crimes are viewed as deviant actions.
- Many deviant behaviors, however, are not considered crimes.
- Examples:
- Actions such as murder, grievous bodily harm (GBH), rape, theft, and supplying firearms are criminal and deviant.
- Behaviors like hoarding, owning an excessive number of cats, or shouting in a library are considered deviant but not criminal.