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

• 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.

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

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

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

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

There are 10 Types of crimes…

Read 135 – 149 and take notes!

QUIZ tomorrow!

1. Violent Personal Crime

Acts in which physical injury is inflicted or threatened

• Assault

• Robbery

• Various types of homicide– Criminal homicide– Mass murders

2. Occasional Property Crime

• Unprofessional crimes against other’s property

• Vandalism

• Check forgery

• Shoplifting

• Automobile theft

3. Occupational Crime

• Crimes that happen at the workplace

• Embezzlement:

• Fraud:

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

5. Public Order Crime

• Prostitution

• Gambling

• Use of illegal substances

• Drunkenness

• Vagrancy

• Disorderly conduct

• Traffic violations

6. Conventional Crimes

• Tend to be young adults committing:– Robbery– Larceny– Burglary– Gang theft

…as a way of life.

7. Organized Crime

• Mafia

• Smaller local organizations

8. Professional Crimes

• Safecracker• Con artist• Quick-handed theft• Counterfeiters• Pickpockets• Full-time shoplifters• Check forgers• Truck hijackers• Black-marketers

9. Juvenile Delinquency

• Designed primarily to protect and redirect young offenders rather than punish them.

10. Hate Crimes

• Deep hatreds for other groups of people– Columbine– Matthew Shepard– Homosexuals– Religions– Ethnicity– Race

• Worldwide problems

Societal Problems

1. Individual fear of victimization

2. Detrimental costs to the economy

3. Serious threat to social stability

The Causes of Crime

• Biological Theories 1. Criminal atavism - criminality is associated w/

physical chxts that resemble those of primitive humans and lower primates

2. Criminal predisposition – certain inherited traits may be correlated with a greater than average tendency to engage in criminal bvr.

3. Human Nature – human aggressive tendencies are instinctual

* No solid evidence to support…

Sociological Theories

1. Conflict perspective – crime is either a form of rebellion or illegal exploitation

A. Social Inequality – criminality a way to act out their rebellion» poverty» race

2. Functionalist Perspective – crime is a result of the uncertainty about norms

A. Anomie – society has approved goals and acceptable ways to achieve them; when can’t turn to crime

3. Interactionist Perspective – focus on the process by which we actually internalize the norms

A. Differential Association – a result of la learning process that occurs w/in small groups» Techs, motives are learned» Deviant b/c of excess defs

B. Subcultural delinquency – a form of unknowledgeable behavior

Social Control of Crime

Punishment1. Purposes

A. Retribution for criminal behaviorB. Deterrence of criminal behavior

2. Affective factorsA. SeverityB. Certainty

Rehabilitation

1. Purposes

A. Production of Criminal conformity

B. Reduction of criminal recidivism

2. Types

A. Prison counseling

B. Job Training

C. Work release

Prevention1.Purposes

A. Preemption of criminal behaviorB. Reduction of criminal recidivism

2.TypesA. Community Programs

Housing development Job Opportunity Youth welfare

B. Institutional Programs Parole Probation Delinquent education Incapacitation

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

Societal Problems

1. Serious harm to individual welfare

2. Detrimental costs to the economy.

3. Disruptive threat to social institutions.

The Causes of Violence

Psychobiological Theories

1. Human Instinct

2. Frustration – Aggression

3. Control

Sociocultural Theories

1. Social Learning

2. Rational – Choice

3. Mass Media

Forms of Violence

Criminal Violence1. Homicide

A. ManslaughterB. Murder

2. Assault

3. Robbery

4. RapeA. Forcible rapeB. Statutory Rape

Family Violence1. Child Abuse2. Spouse Abuse

Terrorist Violence1. Bombing2. Assassination3. Kidnapping4. Hijacking

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.

The Prison System

• Maximum Security Prisons– Main goal: containment, control

• Medium Security Prisons– More rehab done, programs

• Minimum Security Prisons– Supervisory, work related

WI Department of Corrections

Trends and Reforms in Policies

Crime Control Act of 19841. Allocated more funds for prison construction 2. Promoted stricter law enforcement3. Relaxed restrictions on police evidence

gathering activity

Trends1. > emphasis on imprisonment2. > emphasis on law enforcement3. > emphasis on punishment

What’s to come???