Ch 2

INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Chapter 2: The Nature and Extent of Crime

  • Author: Larry J. Siegel, John L. Worrall

  • Source: Introduction to Criminal Justice, 17th Edition. © 2022 Cengage.

  • Note: This material is not permitted to be scanned, copied, duplicated, or publicly shared in any form.

How Crime Is Defined

Types of Views on Crime

  • Consensus View

    • Definition: A perspective that promotes the idea that certain behaviors must be outlawed or controlled.

    • Purpose: Criminal law is interpreted as a mechanism designed to protect citizens from social harm.

  • Conflict View

    • Definition: This view posits that law serves as an instrument for the wealthy to maintain power.

    • Function: It is used to control the behaviors of individuals who oppose ruling ideas or social values, particularly in the context of unequal wealth distribution.

  • Interactionist View

    • Definition: Criminal law is seen as a structure that reflects the preferences and opinions of individuals who hold social power within a given legal jurisdiction.

Concept Summary 2.1 - Definition of Crime

  • Consensus View

    • The will of the majority shapes the law and defines crimes.

    • There exists an agreement on what constitutes right and wrong.

    • Laws are applied equally to all citizens.

    • "Real crimes" are those that are universally recognized and outlawed.

  • Conflict View

    • Crime is a politically defined concept.

    • The law is utilized to exert control over the underclass.

  • Interactionist View

    • The definition of crime is subjective and reflects contemporary societal values and morals.

    • Criminal labels are transformative life events.

General Agreements Among Views

  • Criminal law defines crime.

  • The definition of crime is subject to constant change and evolution.

  • Social forces play a significant role in reshaping the definitions of crime.

  • Criminal law functions as a method of social control.

What Are the Different Categories of Crime?

1. Violent Crimes

  • Types of Violence

    • Expressive Violence: Acts of violence stemming from emotional reactions.

    • Instrumental Violence: Violence aimed at achieving a specific goal.

  • Gang Violence

    • Forms of gang violence include multiple murders, mass murders, spree killings, and serial killing.

  • Intimate Violence: Violence between people in close relationships.

  • Hate Crimes: Offenses motivated by bias against race, religion, or other identity factors.

2. Property Crime

  • Property crime significantly outnumbers violent crime by a ratio of 7 to 1.

  • Types of Theft Offenses

    • Larceny (Includes both petty and grand larceny)

    • Embezzlement: Theft of funds placed in one's trust.

    • Burglary: Unlawful entry into a building with the intent to commit a crime.

3. Property Damage/Invasion

  • Arson: The intentional burning of property.

  • Criminal Mischief: Deliberate destruction of property.

  • Trespassing: Entering someone's land or property without permission.

4. Public Order Crimes

  • Prostitution: Engaging in sexual activities for compensation.

  • Substance Abuse: Misuse of drugs or alcohol.

5. Economic Crimes

  • White-collar Crime: Non-violent crime for financial gain, usually by professionals.

    • Corporate Crime: Crimes committed for corporate gain.

  • Organized Crime: Crime carried out by structured groups typically involved in illicit activities.

Sources of Crime Data

1. Uniform Crime Reports (UCR)

  • Description: Compiled by the FBI; a national survey gathering criminal acts reported to local police.

  • Part I Crimes: Include serious crimes such as murder, rape, burglary, robbery, assault, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft.

2. Part II Crimes

  • Description: Encompasses all other crimes reported to the FBI not classified as Part I, including lesser offenses and misdemeanors, excluding traffic violations.

3. Areas of Concern in Crime Reporting

  • Reporting Practices: Issues surrounding how crimes are reported.

  • Law Enforcement Practices: Consistency and accuracy in law enforcement reporting.

  • Methodological Problems: Challenges in data collection and interpretation.

4. National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)

  • Purpose: Surveys victims regarding their experiences with law violations to gather data not reported to police.

5. Self-Report Surveys

  • Description: Involves offenders reporting on their own criminal behavior.

  • Important Survey Example: Monitoring the Future (MTF).

6. National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS)

  • Requirements: Local police agencies must provide detailed accounts for each incident and arrest, including information about incidents, victims, and offenders.

  • Expanded Categories: Includes additional crimes like blackmail, embezzlement, drug offenses, and bribery.

Strengths and Weaknesses of the Sources of Crime Data

Uniform Crime Reports (UCR)

  • Strengths:

    • Records data from police departments nationwide, including homicides and arrests.

    • Provides a consistent, comparable national sample.

  • Weaknesses:

    • Omits unreported crimes and most drug usage.

    • Contains possible reporting errors.

National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)

  • Strengths:

    • Captures crimes not reported to police.

    • Employs careful sampling techniques and is conducted annually.

  • Weaknesses:

    • Rely on victims’ memory and honesty.

    • Omits substance abuse-related crimes.

Self-Report Surveys

  • Strengths:

    • Includes nonreported crimes and substance abuse.

    • Provides detailed personal information from offenders.

  • Weaknesses:

    • Depends on the honesty of responding offenders.

    • Excludes offenders who refuse or cannot participate, resulting in a potential gap in data from the most deviant individuals.

Crime Trends

Trends in Violent Crime

  • Analysis and interpretation of changes in rates of violent crime over time.

Trends in Property Crime

  • Examination of shifts in property crime incidents and the socio-economic factors influencing these trends.

Trends in Victimization

  • Assessment of changes in overall victimization rates including demographic analysis.

Trends in Self-Reporting

  • Understanding patterns and changes in self-reported criminal behaviors over time.

Crime Patterns

1. The Ecology of Crime

  • Factors impacting crime rates include:

    • Day, season, climate variations.

    • Regional differences, affecting the scope and type of crime.

2. Social Class and Crime

  • Investigating how socioeconomic status relates to crime incidence.

3. Age and Crime

  • Exploration of how crime rates vary across different ages.

4. Gender and Crime

  • Analyzing the role of gender in crime rates and types of crime committed.

    • Factors: Traits, socialization, and cognitive differences contribute to differences in crime rates among genders.

5. Race and Crime

  • Discussion on racial disparities in crime rates and justice system treatment, including:

    • System Bias: Racial threat hypothesis and cultural bias.

    • Structural Bias impacting crime statistics and law enforcement practices.

6. Chronic Offending

  • Examination of reasons for persistent criminal behavior, including early onset of crime.

    • Policy Implications: Effectiveness of three-strikes laws and truth-in-sentencing laws in addressing career criminals.

Distribution of Offenses in the Philadelphia Cohort

  • A detailed examination of the types of offenses committed within a defined cohort in Philadelphia, necessary for understanding localized crime patterns.

Discussion Activity

Topics for Consideration

  • The impact of three-strikes laws and truth-in-sentencing policies on career criminals.

    • Support or opposition to such strategies should be explored.

    • Consider possible negative consequences of these crime control policies, discussing their implications on broader criminal justice and social structures.