Crime and It’s Crime and It’s PreventionPrevention

SOC 112SOC 112

Part 9Part 9

What is Crime?What is Crime?

• DefinitionDefinition::

““All behaviors and acts for which All behaviors and acts for which societysociety

providesprovides

formally sanctioned punishmentformally sanctioned punishment.”.”

What does this mean to us?What does this mean to us?

• Acts that have been legislated into Acts that have been legislated into criminal lawcriminal law

• Where a punishment has been providedWhere a punishment has been provided

• And laws have been written (statutory)And laws have been written (statutory)

Society Determines Right and Society Determines Right and WrongWrong

• Acts can be criminalized or Acts can be criminalized or decriminalizeddecriminalized

• Several states decriminalized personal Several states decriminalized personal possession of marijuanapossession of marijuana

• Traffic violations decriminalized to Traffic violations decriminalized to infractionsinfractions

Types of CrimeTypes of Crime• Corporate CrimeCorporate Crime

– Executives of large companiesExecutives of large companies

• Blue Collar CrimeBlue Collar Crime– Plant worker stealing from companyPlant worker stealing from company

• White Collar CrimeWhite Collar Crime– Office workers stealing from companyOffice workers stealing from company

• Organized CrimeOrganized Crime– A group of people committing crimesA group of people committing crimes

Types of Crime, cont.Types of Crime, cont.

• Victimless crimeVictimless crime– Participants voluntarily joinParticipants voluntarily join

• Hate crimeHate crime– Racist acts committed against minoritiesRacist acts committed against minorities

• Drug Induced crimeDrug Induced crime– Crime committed by those under the Crime committed by those under the

influenceinfluence

Justice TerminologyJustice Terminology• CrimesCrimes

– Felony / Gross Misdemeanor / MisdemeanorFelony / Gross Misdemeanor / Misdemeanor

• Degrees and ClassesDegrees and Classes– 11stst / 2 / 2ndnd / 3 / 3rdrd – A / B / CA / B / C– Assault First / Second / Third / Fourth DegreeAssault First / Second / Third / Fourth Degree

• CharacteristicsCharacteristics– Aggravated 1Aggravated 1stst Degree Murder / Sex Crimes Degree Murder / Sex Crimes

Terminology, cont.Terminology, cont.– Burglary (armed vs. unarmed) / 3 StrikesBurglary (armed vs. unarmed) / 3 Strikes

• Crime and CriminalsCrime and Criminals– Affects all directly or indirectlyAffects all directly or indirectly

• DirectlyDirectly– victim of crimevictim of crime

• IndirectlyIndirectly – monetary costs / actionsmonetary costs / actions

Crime and CriminalsCrime and Criminals• High cost of crimeHigh cost of crime

– Crime is up / so are costsCrime is up / so are costs– $70 billion industry$70 billion industry

• ““Backend”Backend” of systemof system– Prisons / jailsPrisons / jails– 65% increase since 200065% increase since 2000

• Primary areasPrimary areas– Prison operationsPrison operations– Prison constructionPrison construction

Costs of CrimeCosts of Crime• Less moneyLess money

– Probation / parole / pardon servicesProbation / parole / pardon services– Police costs: 7% since 2000Police costs: 7% since 2000– Maintenance costs more than arrest processMaintenance costs more than arrest process

• Prison servicesPrison services– No overcrowdingNo overcrowding– Provide proper treatmentProvide proper treatment– 41 states / Washington, D.C. under court 41 states / Washington, D.C. under court

orderorder

• Limit or cut servicesLimit or cut services

Fear of CrimeFear of Crime• High levels of violent crimeHigh levels of violent crime

– Widespread fearWidespread fear– 21,597 homicides in 199521,597 homicides in 1995– Over 16,000 in 2010Over 16,000 in 2010– All industrialized countriesAll industrialized countries

• 2000: St. Louis2000: St. Louis / pop. 370,000 / 292 / pop. 370,000 / 292 homicideshomicides– Scotland: pop. 5,100,000 / 116 homicidesScotland: pop. 5,100,000 / 116 homicides– Scottish levels high: European standardsScottish levels high: European standards

• 47%:47%: afraid to walk alone at night afraid to walk alone at night

Fear, cont.Fear, cont.– Over half of black American adultsOver half of black American adults

• American phenomenonAmerican phenomenon– Crime and punishmentCrime and punishment– Distinguishes United StatesDistinguishes United States– Pervasive fearPervasive fear

• Reason: crime controlReason: crime control– Real / perceived fearReal / perceived fear– Lock people upLock people up– Highest concentration rate (529 / 100,000)Highest concentration rate (529 / 100,000)

Fear, cont.Fear, cont.• Socially disadvantagedSocially disadvantaged

– 1 in every 3 black adult males1 in every 3 black adult males– 20 to 29 years old20 to 29 years old– Jail or prison / probation or paroleJail or prison / probation or parole

• Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C. (any given day) (any given day)– 40% African-American males40% African-American males– 18 to 35 years old18 to 35 years old– Jail or prison / probation or parole / awaiting Jail or prison / probation or parole / awaiting

trial /trial /

sought on arrest warrantssought on arrest warrants

Fear, cont.Fear, cont.• Incarceration: record levelsIncarceration: record levels

– Surpass Russia / South AfricaSurpass Russia / South Africa– Expanding in other areasExpanding in other areas– 85% believe courts too lenient 85% believe courts too lenient

• Crime controlCrime control– Never able to controlNever able to control– Part of basic culturePart of basic culture– Institutional arrangements of societyInstitutional arrangements of society– Legitimate professionLegitimate profession– Unless caughtUnless caught

Crime control, cont.Crime control, cont.• America: organized for crimeAmerica: organized for crime

– Same values / behaviorsSame values / behaviors– Taught goal of material successTaught goal of material success– Achieve American dreamAchieve American dream

• No resources to controlNo resources to control– Welfare societyWelfare society– Crime societyCrime society

• Englewood Section: ChicagoEnglewood Section: Chicago– 1980s: stable environment / 1990s: became 1980s: stable environment / 1990s: became

most violentmost violent

Control, cont.Control, cont.• 96 homicides per 100,00096 homicides per 100,000 (1991) (1991)

– Nine times US rateNine times US rate– 6 more than Northern Ireland6 more than Northern Ireland– Englewood: 108,000 / No. Ireland: 1,584,000Englewood: 108,000 / No. Ireland: 1,584,000

• Description of community:Description of community:– ““Do you see any hardware stores? Do you see any grocery stores? Do you see any hardware stores? Do you see any grocery stores?

There is nothing here. Nothing is worth anything in the area because There is nothing here. Nothing is worth anything in the area because you open up and you get knocked off, and you get knocked off, and you open up and you get knocked off, and you get knocked off, and you get knocked off until you give up. In the last few months, three of you get knocked off until you give up. In the last few months, three of the last gas stations closed up. The Church’s Fried Chicken at Madison the last gas stations closed up. The Church’s Fried Chicken at Madison and Sacramento finally gave up after being robbed nine days in a row and Sacramento finally gave up after being robbed nine days in a row by nine different people. You don’t see any news- paper vending by nine different people. You don’t see any news- paper vending machines. Everything we take for granted – a laundromat, a dry machines. Everything we take for granted – a laundromat, a dry cleaner’s, anything. It’s not here. The school dropout rate is 70 cleaner’s, anything. It’s not here. The school dropout rate is 70 percent. What do these kids have to do. Nothing?”percent. What do these kids have to do. Nothing?”

Crime in AmericaCrime in America• Coming homeComing home

– Oklahoma bombing / kidnappings / murders / etc.Oklahoma bombing / kidnappings / murders / etc.– Washington state?Washington state?– Grays Harbor?Grays Harbor?

• Crime at doorstepCrime at doorstep– Fear in our safety / our loved onesFear in our safety / our loved ones– People owning gunsPeople owning guns– Carrying pepper sprayCarrying pepper spray

• Get tough attitudeGet tough attitude

America, cont.America, cont.• Become demandingBecome demanding

– Stiffer penalties (adults / juveniles)Stiffer penalties (adults / juveniles)– 3 strikes your out3 strikes your out– Death penalty support (80%)Death penalty support (80%)– Last resort / failedLast resort / failed

• Leave crime neighborhoodsLeave crime neighborhoods– Hiring strain on businessHiring strain on business– People demand protectionPeople demand protection

• Role of MediaRole of Media

DemographicsDemographics– Carry event several daysCarry event several days– Based on seeing / reading (personal Based on seeing / reading (personal

experiences)experiences)– 65% media / 21% personal / 13% both65% media / 21% personal / 13% both– TV news: window to worldTV news: window to world

• Middle-aged populationMiddle-aged population– IncreasingIncreasing– More concerned (self/ home / children)More concerned (self/ home / children)

• Danger becoming victimDanger becoming victim

Demographics, cont.Demographics, cont.– Very low possibilityVery low possibility– Fear of random violenceFear of random violence– 79% major problem79% major problem– 14% in neighborhood14% in neighborhood– 61% feel safe at home61% feel safe at home

• Reports usedReports used– Uniform Crime ReportUniform Crime Report– National Crime Victimization SurveyNational Crime Victimization Survey

• Demographics change / crime increasesDemographics change / crime increases

Demographics, cont.Demographics, cont.– Age groupingsAge groupings– Younger populationYounger population– Sense of community dwindlesSense of community dwindles– Trust declinesTrust declines

• How much crime is there?How much crime is there?– Crime increasingCrime increasing– Fear increasingFear increasing

• Terrible crimes occurTerrible crimes occur– How do we feel?How do we feel?

Demographics, cont.Demographics, cont.– Shocked? / disbelieving?Shocked? / disbelieving?– Acceptance? / routine?Acceptance? / routine?– Desensitized to violent crime?Desensitized to violent crime?

• Reactions differ from 50’s / 60’sReactions differ from 50’s / 60’s– Part of our culture / acceptedPart of our culture / accepted– Why has society changed?Why has society changed?

• Violence is everywhereViolence is everywhere– Music / entertainment / sports / schools / streetsMusic / entertainment / sports / schools / streets– Used for arguments / disputes / traffic accidentsUsed for arguments / disputes / traffic accidents

Demographics, cont.Demographics, cont.• Reason No. 1:Reason No. 1: Criminal Justice System Criminal Justice System

– Low arrest rateLow arrest rate– Lenient courtsLenient courts– Plea bargainsPlea bargains

• Reason No. 2:Reason No. 2: Lack values / education Lack values / education– No high school degreeNo high school degree– Abused as childAbused as child

• Reason No. 3:Reason No. 3: No respect for authority No respect for authority– Confront / challenge policeConfront / challenge police

Future of CrimeFuture of Crime• Violent youthViolent youth

– No respect for people / property / lawNo respect for people / property / law– No values / no moralsNo values / no morals– Development of valuesDevelopment of values

• MediaMedia– Glamorizes violenceGlamorizes violence– Stallone / Vin Disel / Van Dam / Schwartznegger Stallone / Vin Disel / Van Dam / Schwartznegger

• DrugsDrugs– Selling / buying / under influenceSelling / buying / under influence

Methods to Reduce Methods to Reduce CrimeCrime

• IncapacitationIncapacitation– Restraining selected individualsRestraining selected individuals– Serious offendersSerious offenders– Castration / Depo-ProveraCastration / Depo-Provera

• Retribution (revenge)Retribution (revenge)– Part of human naturePart of human nature– Legitimizes punishmentLegitimizes punishment

• DeterrenceDeterrence– Immediate / not long termImmediate / not long term