Crime

1
Crime

• A violation of societal rules of behavior as
  interpreted and expressed by a criminal legal
  code created by people holding social and
  political power.

2
Criminology

• The body of knowledge regarding crime as a social
  phenomenon. It includes within its scope the
  process of making laws, of breaking laws, and of
  reacting toward breaking laws.

From Criminology Theories, Patterns, and
Typologies, Fifth edition by Larry J. Siegel.
3
The Criminological Enterprise

• Criminal Statistics
• Sociology of Law
• Theory Construction
• Criminal Behavior Systems
• Penology
• Victomology

4
Criminal Statistics

• Gathering data related to crime
• Assuring validity of data
• Introducing new research methods
• Tracking crime patterns

5
Sociology of Law

• Determining the origin of law and measuring
  forces changing laws within a society.

6
Theory Construction

• Predicting behavior
• Understanding the causes of crime
• Understanding crime trends

7
Criminal Behavior Systems

• Determining the nature and cause of specific
  crime patterns
• Violence
• Theft
• Organized crime
• White-collar crime
• Public order crimes

8
Penology

• Criminal Behavior
• Correction
• Control

9
Victimology

• Understanding the nature and cause of
  victimization
• Aiding crime victims

10
What Makes A Criminal?

• What causes an individual to become a criminal?

11
Major Perspectives

• Classical/Choice Perspective
• Biological/Psychological Perspective
• Structural Perspective
• Process Perspective
• Conflict Perspective
• Integrated Perspective

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Classical/Choice Perspective

• Situational Forces
• Crime is a function of free will and personal
  choice. Punishment is a deterrent to crime.

13
Biological/Psychological Perspective

• Internal Forces
• Crime is a function of chemical, neurological,
  genetic, personality, intelligence, or mental
  characteristics.

14
Structural Perspective

• Ecological Forces
• Crime rates are a function of neighborhood
  characteristics and cultural forces.

15
Process Perspective

• Socialization Forces
• Crime is a function of upbringing, learning, and
  control.

16
Conflict Perspective

• Economic and Political Forces
• Crime is a function of competition for limited
  resources and power.

17
Integrated Perspective

• Multiple Forces
• Biological, social-psychological, economic, and
  political forces may combine to produce crime.

18
Consensus View

• Crimes are behaviors rejected by the entire
  society
• Implies agreement among a majority of citizens
• Results in laws to control undesirable behaviors
• Laws apply equally to all members of society
• Crimes are those acts prohibited by law
• Competing views
• Conflict view
• Interactionist view