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Crime in Society and the Justice System

Learn about the definition of crime, categories, terminology, costs, and the impact of fear in America. Explore crime control, sociodemographics, and media influence.

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Crime in Society and the Justice System

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  1. Enterprise Crime SOC 112 Chapter 12

  2. What is Crime? 1. Definition: “All behaviors and acts for which society provides formally sanctioned punishment.”

  3. What does this mean to us? a. Acts that have been legislated into criminal law b. Where a punishment has been provided c. And laws have been written (statutory) d. To control our behavior

  4. Society Determines Right and Wrong e. Acts can be criminalized or decriminalized f. Several states decriminalized personal possession of marijuana g. Traffic violations decriminalized to infractions 2. Categories:

  5. Enterprise Corporate crime a. Executives of large companies b. Blue collar crime - plant worker stealing from company c. White collar crime - office worker theft / business front to swindle d. Organized crime: group committing crimes

  6. Enterprise (1) Embezzlement - from blue collar to management (2) Client fraud - cheating organizations (government/insurance/etc.) (3) Health care fraud - tax evasion

  7. Justice Terminology • Crimes • Felony / Gross Misdemeanor / Misdemeanor • Degrees and Classes • 1st / 2nd / 3rd • A / B / C • Assault First / Second / Third / Fourth Degree • Characteristics • Aggravated 1st Degree Murder / Sex Crimes

  8. Terminology, cont. • Burglary (armed vs. unarmed) / 3 Strikes • Crime and Criminals • Affects all directly or indirectly • Directly • victim of crime • Indirectly • monetary costs / actions

  9. Crime and Criminals • High cost of crime • Crime is up / so are costs • $70 billion industry • “Backend”of system • Prisons / jails • 65% increase since 1990s • Primary areas • Prison operations • Prison construction

  10. Costs of Crime • Less money • Probation / parole / pardon services • Police costs: 7% since 1990s • Maintenance costs more than arrest process • Prison services • No overcrowding • Provide proper treatment • 41 states / Washington, D.C. under court order • Limit or cut services

  11. Fear of Crime • High levels of violent crime • Widespread fear • 21,597 homicides in 1995 • Over 16,000 in 2011 • All industrialized countries • 1992: St. Louis / pop. 370,000 / 292 homicides • Scotland: pop. 5,100,000 / 116 homicides • Scottish levels high: European standards • 47%: afraid to walk alone at night

  12. Fear, cont. • Over half of black American adults • American phenomenon • Crime and punishment • Distinguishes United States • Pervasive fear • Reason: crime control • Real / perceived fear • Lock people up • Highest concentration rate (529 / 100,000)

  13. Fear, cont. • Socially disadvantaged • 1 in every 3 black adult males • 20 to 29 years old • Jail or prison / probation or parole • Washington, D.C. (any given day) • 40% African-American males • 18 to 35 years old • Jail or prison / probation or parole / awaiting trial / sought on arrest warrants

  14. Fear, cont. • Incarceration: record levels • Surpass Russia / South Africa • Expanding in other areas • 85% believe courts too lenient • Crime control • Never able to control • Part of basic culture • Institutional arrangements of society • Legitimate profession • Unless caught

  15. Crime control, cont. • America: organized for crime • Same values / behaviors • Taught goal of material success • Achieve American dream • No resources to control • Welfare society • Crime society • Englewood Section: Chicago • 1980s: stable environment / 1990s: became most violent

  16. Control, cont. • 96 homicides per 100,000 (2009) • Nine times US rate • 6 more than Northern Ireland • Englewood: 108,000 / No. Ireland: 1,584,000 • Description of community: • “Do you see any hardware stores? Do you see any grocery stores? 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 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 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 machines. Everything we take for granted – a laundry, a dry cleaner’s, anything. It’s not here. The school dropout rate is 70 percent. What do these kids have to do. Nothing?”

  17. Crime in America • Coming home • Oklahoma bombing / kidnappings / murders / etc. • Washington state? • Grays Harbor? • Crime at doorstep • Fear in our safety / our loved ones • People owning guns • Carrying pepper spray • Get tough attitude

  18. America, cont. • Become demanding • Stiffer penalties (adults / juveniles) • 3 strikes your out • Death penalty support (80%) • Last resort / failed • Leave crime neighborhoods • Hiring strain on business • People demand protection • Role of Media

  19. Demographics • Carry event several days • Based on seeing / reading (personal experiences) • 65% media / 21% personal / 13% both • TV news: window to world • Middle-aged population • Increasing • More concerned (self/ home / children) • Danger becoming victim

  20. Demographics, cont. • Very low possibility • Fear of random violence • 79% major problem • 14% in neighborhood • 61% feel safe at home • Reports used • Uniform Crime Report • National Crime Victimization Survey • Demographics change / crime increases

  21. Demographics, cont. • Age groupings • Younger population • Sense of community dwindles • Trust declines • How much crime is there? • Crime increasing • Fear increasing • Terrible crimes occur • How do we feel?

  22. Demographics, cont. • Shocked? / disbelieving? • Acceptance? / routine? • Desensitized to violent crime? • Reactions differ from 50’s / 60’s • Part of our culture / accepted • Why has society changed? • Violence is everywhere • Music / entertainment / sports / schools / streets • Used for arguments / disputes / traffic accidents

  23. Demographics, cont. • Reason No. 1: Criminal Justice System • Low arrest rate • Lenient courts • Plea bargains • Reason No. 2: Lack values / education • No high school degree • Abused as child • Reason No. 3: No respect for authority • Confront / challenge police

  24. Future of Crime • Violent youth • No respect for people / property / law • No values / no morals • Development of values • Media • Glamorizes violence • Stallone / Vin Disel / Van Dam / Schwartznegger • Drugs • Selling / buying / under influence

  25. Methods to Reduce Crime • Incapacitation • Restraining selected individuals • Serious offenders • Castration / Depo-Provera • Retribution (revenge) • Part of human nature • Legitimizes punishment • Deterrence • Immediate / not long term

  26. Public Order Crimes • Soc 112 • Chapter 13

  27. Public Order • Law and morality - criminal or immoral a. Sex-related offenses - pedophilia - prostitution (street / call girls / brothels) - pornography b. Substance abuse - legal / illegal drugs / legalization

  28. Public order c. Victimless crimes 2. Social Harm Theory - not a crime - people die / injured a. Tobacco / alcohol - kill 500,000 yearly b. High speed vehicles - 40,000 deaths yearly

  29. Public order 3. Sex-Related Offenses a. Paraphilias - bizarre / abnormal sex practices - voyeurism / pedophilia / exhibitionism b. Prostitution - street / call / brothels / escort / cyber - legalization vs. controlling

  30. Public order c. Pornography - sexually explicit materials - deeply offensive to morality / decency - First Amendment / Roth vs. United States 4. Substance abuse a. Alcohol abuse - temperance / prohibition - slightly more than half of Americans (12+) - 1/5th binge drink / 7% heavy drinking

  31. Public order b. Causes for drug abuse: - sub-cultural view: poor neighborhood - psychological view: mental deficiency - genetic factors: use has genetic basis - social learning: observing parents - problem behavior syndrome: causes use - rational choice: do so for personal reasons c. Drug control strategies - interdiction: intercepting at border - law enforcement: large-scale drug rings

  32. Public order - punishment: drug dealers/traffickers - community: local groups become involved - education/prevention: schools - drug testing: private and government - treatment: treat known users - employment: getting people jobs d. Legalization - marijuana: opening the door? - what should be legal

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