Chapter 1: Crime, Criminal Justice, and Criminology
- Page ID
- 328888
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- 1.2: Deviance, Rule Violations, and Criminality
- This page explores the concept of deviance, defined as behaviors that diverge from social norms. It highlights Goode's framework, which includes four conditions for recognizing deviant behavior. An assignment encourages readers to apply this definition to personal experiences, particularly regarding how attire can be viewed as deviant depending on societal standards and context. The page emphasizes the role of audience perception and historical context in shaping the understanding of deviance.
- 1.5: Consensus View and Decriminalizing Laws
- This page discusses the consensus view in criminology, highlighting that laws are based on collective societal agreement and emphasize equality in their application. It explores how criminal law reflects shared beliefs and moral standards, and examines the complexities of decriminalization, particularly with marijuana legalization, showcasing the differences between state and federal legal perspectives on certain issues.
- 1.6: Conflict View
- This page discusses the conflict view of society, which sees it as composed of diverse groups with differing interests and highlights the unequal creation of laws. It reviews Edwin Sutherland’s insights on white-collar crime, noting that high-status offenders are often neglected in criminology.
- 1.9: How Cases Move Through the System
- This page explores the relationship between ethics and discretion in the criminal justice system, emphasizing the necessity for ethical conduct among law enforcement. It provides examples of how discretion may result in unethical actions, like permitting drunk driving. The concept of the "crime funnel" is introduced, demonstrating that numerous crimes go unreported, affecting the justice system's evaluation and public perception.
- 1.11: Wedding Cake Model of Justice
- This page presents the Wedding Cake Model, which depicts the criminal justice system's structure as a tiered cake. The bottom layer represents misdemeanors, including minor offenses such as public intoxication and graffiti, often resulting in fines. Above this, Class C felonies are depicted as more serious yet still less severe crimes.
- 1.12: Street Crime, Corporate Crime, and White-Collar Crime
- This page examines the disparity between street crime and corporate crime. It highlights that while street crime is a societal concern, it primarily affects a small number of individuals, particularly the elderly who may fear it most. In contrast, corporate crime, driven by profit motives, inflicts greater harm on society through environmental damage and health risks but receives less public scrutiny and is often overlooked by the criminal justice system.
- 1.13: Different Types of Crimes and Offenses
- This page categorizes crimes into Crimes Against the Person, Crimes Against Property, and Crimes Against Public Order, highlighting their severity and penalties influenced by state definitions. It discusses drug offenses within the context of the "war on drugs" and explains how penalties vary. The page also differentiates between misdemeanors and felonies based on punishment severity.
- 1.14: Victims and Victim Typologies
- This page explores the essential role of victims in the criminal justice system, presenting typologies that classify them based on their involvement in crime, such as Mendelsohn’s range from "innocent" to "imaginary" and Von Hentig's focus on vulnerable groups like youth and minorities. It also discusses victim precipitation, which implies that victims may contribute to their own victimization while clarifying that this does not excuse offenders.
- 1.15: Victim Rights and Assistance
- This page discusses victim-impact statements and their role in representing the effects of crime on victims and their families. It emphasizes the importance of victims' rights in the criminal justice system, including dignity, case information, protection, compensation, return of property, and a speedy trial. The page underscores the necessity of enforcing these rights to provide victims with support and acknowledgment during the legal process.


