Transcript Crime
Crime Crime Crime What are the principle types of crime in the United States? What are the characteristics of the American criminal justice system? Crime Any act that is labeled as such by an authority Prohibited by law Punishable by the government Ex. Robbing a bank vs. swimmer watching someone drown? Ex. Good Samaritan Law Crime Who commits crimes? Sex: men more likely than women Race: Afr. Am. 12% of population but account for 30% of arrests (no causal link betw/ race and crime) Age: half of arrests involve people 25 and below Crime Statistics Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) published by FBI Major source of crime data Compiled using local police dept. statistics Good source but is limited Why? Crime Statistics Does not reflect all complaints/police officer discretion Individuals less likely to report crimes if family/friends are involved Police tend to file reports on serious crimes when higher social classes victims) are involved Police more likely to file when person making complaint is respectful/compliant Crime Statistics 2000 US Census: Safest US Cities –in Southwest and along Pacific Coast Lowest Homicide Rates-El Paso,TX; Austin,TX; San Jose, CA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3vQ2ouOuM Types of Crime UCR 29 classifications pg.188 Grouped into 5 categories: Violent crime Crimes against property Victimless crimes White collar crime Organized crime Violent crime Murder, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault UCR…Every 22 seconds in the US, violent crime is committed Most victims tend to be Afr. Am 18-24 yr old Afr. Am are victimization rate of 8 of AA women, white men, and 30 times of white women Violent crimes Committed with guns and other weapons 65% of all murders committed w/guns Rate of handgun used in homicides is higher in US than in any other country http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ o-orO8UHU White Collar Crime Offenses committed by individuals of high social status in their professional lives EX. Michael Milken, Martha Stewart http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tw RLyD2MU1g Crime against Property Burglary Larceny (theft other than auto) Motor vehicle theft Arson Committed every 3 secs in the US Crime rate connected to changes in population…but 1980’s/1990’s increase due to illegal drug use Victimless Crime Prostitution Gambling Illegal drug use Vagrancy Offenders may not suffer, what are the consequences for society? Organized Crime Criminal syndicate: A large scale organization of professional criminals controlling some vice or business through violence or threat of violence Huge $$$ unfair labor practices, drug trafficking, illegal gambling, loan sharking Organized crime http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6 Pq99skwBmM Criminal justice system Police Courts Corrections (Juvenile justice system) Police Police discretion- considerable power to determine who gets arrested 5 Factors considered in arrest: 5 Factors Seriousness 2. Victim’s wishes 3. Attitude of suspect 4. Witnesses or bystanders 5. Race- more likely to arrest/use force w/African Americans (racial profiling) *what about after 9/11, or Hispanics? 1. Police Racial Profiling- practice of assuming that non white Americans more likely to commit crimes than white Americans http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKaiNM OkpnA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR6j3Sk puxk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR6j3Sk puxk Courts Purpose 1. Determines the guilt or innocence of an accused person by means of trial 2. Assigns punishment Courts 90% Plea Bargained (legal negotiations for accused: lesser charge/lighter sentence) Reduces volume of case loads/expensive trials Corrections Imprisonment, parole, probation, community service, fines 4 functions Corrections 1. 2. 3. 4. Retribution-revenge for victim/society Deterrence-discourage Rehabilitation-reform and return Social protection- limiting their freedom/eliminating threat Corrections Effectiveness determined by recidivism (repeated criminal behavior) 62% charged w/new crimes 41% will return to prison w/in 3 years What do you think the goals of criminal punishment should be? Juvenile Justice 3rd largest category 18 and under Before 1960 had fewer rights and not protected