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The Problem of Crime and Violence

The Problem of Crime and Violence. Facts About Crime and Violence. In 2003 about 10 million violent and property crimes were committed in the U.S. Crimes reported to the police make up about 1/3 of actual offenses and about ½ of violent crimes. Facts About Crime and Violence.

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The Problem of Crime and Violence

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  1. The Problem of Crime and Violence

  2. Facts About Crime and Violence • In 2003 about 10 million violent and property crimes were committed in the U.S. • Crimes reported to the police make up about 1/3 of actual offenses and about ½ of violent crimes.

  3. Facts About Crime and Violence • When weapons are involved, guns account for about 70% of murders. • People under 25 account for about 57.5% of all arrests for property crimes. • Women make up 12% of the total prisons population in the United States.

  4. Patterns of Crime • Crime rate has increased since 1970; 1990s began to drop • Arrests are greater for less violent crimes • Crime is higher in urban areas • Crime is increasing most rapidly for people under 25 • Numerous crimes are unreported

  5. The Problem of Crime • Definition: refers to any act that is prohibited by criminal law and sanctioned by the state • Criminal law: prohibits acts and sets the punishments • Not all violations of social rules are against the law • Civil law: noncriminal ways in which one injures another; car accident

  6. Resources for Crime Statistics • Police reports • Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) of the Federal Bureau of Investigation • Self victimization reports • National Crime Victimization Survey of the Bureau of Justice Statistics

  7. Police Discretion and Reporting • Police officers have considerable discretion and which laws to “ignore” and enforce • Determining the level of crime depends on police reports; these depend on quality of police personnel in a given area

  8. There are 10 Types of crimes… Read 135 – 149 and take notes! QUIZ tomorrow!

  9. 1. Violent Personal Crime Acts in which physical injury is inflicted or threatened • Assault • Robbery • Various types of homicide • Criminal homicide • Mass murders

  10. 2. Occasional Property Crime • Unprofessional crimes against other’s property • Vandalism • Check forgery • Shoplifting • Automobile theft

  11. 3. Occupational Crime • Crimes that happen at the workplace • Embezzlement: • Fraud:

  12. 4. Corporate Crime • Environmental crimes • Illegal credit card manipulations • Insider trading financial institutions • Intimidation of competitors and employees • Illegal labor practices • Defrauding of pension plans • Falsification of company records • Bribery of public officials • Computer crimes

  13. 5. Public Order Crime • Prostitution • Gambling • Use of illegal substances • Drunkenness • Vagrancy • Disorderly conduct • Traffic violations

  14. 6. Conventional Crimes • Tend to be young adults committing: • Robbery • Larceny • Burglary • Gang theft …as a way of life.

  15. 7. Organized Crime • Mafia • Smaller local organizations

  16. 8. Professional Crimes • Safecracker • Con artist • Quick-handed theft • Counterfeiters • Pickpockets • Full-time shoplifters • Check forgers • Truck hijackers • Black-marketers

  17. 9. Juvenile Delinquency • Designed primarily to protect and redirect young offenders rather than punish them.

  18. 10. Hate Crimes • Deep hatreds for other groups of people • Columbine • Matthew Shepard • Homosexuals • Religions • Ethnicity • Race • Worldwide problems

  19. Societal Problems • Individual fear of victimization • Detrimental costs to the economy • Serious threat to social stability

  20. The Causes of Crime • Biological Theories • Criminal atavism - criminality is associated w/ physical chxts that resemble those of primitive humans and lower primates • Criminal predisposition – certain inherited traits may be correlated with a greater than average tendency to engage in criminal bvr. • Human Nature – human aggressive tendencies are instinctual * No solid evidence to support…

  21. Sociological Theories • Conflict perspective – crime is either a form of rebellion or illegal exploitation • Social Inequality – criminality a way to act out their rebellion • poverty • race • Functionalist Perspective – crime is a result of the uncertainty about norms • Anomie – society has approved goals and acceptable ways to achieve them; when can’t turn to crime

  22. 3. Interactionist Perspective – focus on the process by which we actually internalize the norms • Differential Association – a result of la learning process that occurs w/in small groups • Techs, motives are learned • Deviant b/c of excess defs • Subcultural delinquency – a form of unknowledgeable behavior

  23. Social Control of Crime Punishment 1. Purposes A. Retribution for criminal behavior B. Deterrence of criminal behavior 2. Affective factors A. Severity B. Certainty

  24. Rehabilitation 1. Purposes A. Production of Criminal conformity B. Reduction of criminal recidivism 2. Types A. Prison counseling B. Job Training C. Work release

  25. Prevention • Purposes • Preemption of criminal behavior • Reduction of criminal recidivism • Types • Community Programs • Housing development • Job Opportunity • Youth welfare • Institutional Programs • Parole • Probation • Delinquent education • Incapacitation

  26. The Problem of Violence Definition: Violence refers to behavior that is designed to inflict injury to people or damage to property. Types 1. Institutional violence 2. Noninstitutional violence 3. Structural Violence

  27. Societal Problems 1. Serious harm to individual welfare 2. Detrimental costs to the economy. 3. Disruptive threat to social institutions.

  28. The Causes of Violence Psychobiological Theories 1. Human Instinct 2. Frustration – Aggression 3. Control

  29. Sociocultural Theories 1. Social Learning 2. Rational – Choice 3. Mass Media

  30. Forms of Violence Criminal Violence 1. Homicide A. Manslaughter B. Murder 2. Assault 3. Robbery 4. Rape A. Forcible rape B. Statutory Rape

  31. Family Violence 1. Child Abuse 2. Spouse Abuse Terrorist Violence 1. Bombing 2. Assassination 3. Kidnapping 4. Hijacking

  32. Punishment Process 1. Arrested 2. Court system: guilty or not-guilty (trial) 3. Punishment if found guilty * In reality, most criminal cases are settled through plea bargaining before the case goes to trial.

  33. The Prison System • Maximum Security Prisons • Main goal: containment, control • Medium Security Prisons • More rehab done, programs • Minimum Security Prisons • Supervisory, work related

  34. WI Department of Corrections

  35. Trends and Reforms in Policies Crime Control Act of 1984 • Allocated more funds for prison construction • Promoted stricter law enforcement • Relaxed restrictions on police evidence gathering activity Trends • > emphasis on imprisonment • > emphasis on law enforcement • > emphasis on punishment What’s to come???

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