Distinguish between a social definition and a legal definition of crime and summarize the problems with each.
A typical social definition of crime is behavior that violates the norms of society or, more simply, antisocial behavior. A typical legal definition of crime is an intentional violation of the criminal law or penal code, committed without defense or excuse and penalized by the state. There are problems with both definitions. Problems with the social definition are that (1) there are no uniform norms of behavior accepted by all of society, (2) norms of behavior are subject to interpretation, and (3) norms change from time to time and from place to place. Problems with the legal definition of crime are (1) overcriminalization, (2) nonenforcement, and (3) undercriminalization.
List the technical and ideal elements of a crime.
The technical and ideal elements of a crime are (1) harm, (2) legality, (3) actus reus, (4) mens rea, (5) causation, (6) concurrence, and (7) punishment.
Identify some of the legal defenses or legal excuses for criminal responsibility.
Among the legal defenses or legal excuses for criminal responsibility in the United States are that the defendant (1) acted under duress, (2) was underage, (3) was insane, (4) acted in self-defense or in defense of a third party, (5) was entrapped, or (6) acted out of necessity.
Explain why crime and delinquency statistics are unreliable.
Among the reasons why crime and delinquency statistics are unreliable are the following: First, some behavior is labeled crime by one observer but not by another. Second, a large proportion of crimes are undetected. Third, not all crimes are reported to the police. Fourth, not all crimes that are reported are officially recorded by the police.
Identify the two major sources of crime statistics in the United States.
The two major sources of crime statistics in the United States are the uniform crime reports (UCR) compiled by the FBI and the national crime victimization surveys (NCVS) compiled by the Bureau of Justice Statistics.
Describe the principal finding of the national crime victimization surveys.
The national crime victimization surveys (NCVS) produce different results from the FBI's uniform crime reports (UCR). The NCVS generally show more crimes being committed than the UCR. The NCVS count more of some kinds of crimes and count them differently.
Summarize the general finding of self-report crime surveys.
Self-report crime surveys show that the amount of hidden crime in the United States is enormous; more than 90 percent of all Americans have committed crimes for which they could have been imprisoned.
Identify the costs of crime.
According to data from the NCVS, in 2001 the total economic loss to victims of crime in the United States was $14 billion. This figure does not include the tangible costs of the criminal justice process, security devices bought for protection, losses to businesses, losses from corporate crimes, or the intangible costs of pain, suffering, and reduced quality of life. When all costs are totaled, it is estimated that crime costs about $450 billion annually.
Describe the extent of fear of crime in the United States and the characteristics of people most likely to fear crime.
Fear of crime, especially violent crime, is widespread. However, it is neither evenly distributed across the population nor commensurate with the statistical probability of being a victim. In general, those more likely to fear crime are females, nonwhites, people 50 years old and older, Jews, people living in urban areas, Westerners and Southerners, people with less education, Democrats, and people whose family income is less than $50,000.
List the characteristics of people who are the most likely and the least likely to be victims of crime.
According to data from the 2001 NCVS, the most likely victims of personal violent crimes are young (12-24 years old), never married, divorced, or separated, poor, black, urban men living in the West. The group least likely to experience violent crime victimization is persons aged 65 or older. The most likely victims of household property crimes are households in urban areas headed by renters and Hispanics in the West.
