Transcript What is Crime? an act committed that is forbidden or in violation of

Crime and Punishment
Why do Sociologists study Crime?
- to study why norms (laws) exist
- to study how norms (laws) change over time
- to examine how norms (laws) are enforced
- to examine how norms (laws) which when
broken, are punished
- to place norms (laws) which are broken into
categories
What is Crime?
an act committed that is forbidden or in violation
of the laws (norms) of a governing society
Crime violates the norms, values, and/or
beliefs of a society
What is considered a Criminal act can
change over time
- In Arizona, hunting camels is prohibited
- Blacks drinking from “White Only” fountains
(Jim Crow Laws)
- Drinking alcohol (Prohibition)
Types of Crime
1. Violent Crime: Murder, rape, robbery
-physical violence or threat of violence
2. Property Crimes: Burglary, arson
-No person is physically harmed
3. Victimless Crime: Prostitution, gambling, drug
use
-No harm to anyone except the perpetrator
4. White Collar Crime: Fraud, tax evasion, toxic
pollution
-By people of high social standing
5. Organized Crime: Drug trafficking, gambling,
black market
-large scale and professional
Juvenile Justice System
1. Police: Make arrests
2. Booked then Released to Custody of Parents
3. Sent to Juvenile Court: (for anyone under the age of 18)
- Adjucatory Hearing = a “Magistrate” determines guilt or innocence
juvenile plea = “no contest”
- Disposition Hearing (Sentencing) = Juvenile Detention, Probation,
Rehabilitation, or Diversion
76% juvenile recidivism—also highest in the world
4. Juvenile Justice System:
- punishments based on offender rate
- focus in on rehabilitation
The Adult Criminal Justice System
1. Police Make Arrests:
2. Booked and/or Sent to Jail:
- until bail posted or court date
3. Court: Pre-Trial
- Plea “Guilty” or “Not Guilty”
- Determine if there is enough evidence for trial
4.
Court: Trial
- Judge hears case and Jury delivers verdict
- Judge sentences: Prison, Rehabilitation,
Probation, Community
Service, and/or Fines
Adult Criminal Justice System Facts:
• US has 5% of the world’s population & 25% of
the world’s inmates
• 1 in 5 inmates is sexually assaulted
• 25% of all inmates are gang members
• 35% of inmates are drug addicts
• 80% are drug users
• 25% of all prison beds are occupied by people
who are mentally insane
• Only 12 of 5000 prisons have higher
education programs
• 700,000 inmates are released each years
• 2/3 are back within three years (Recidvism)