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Understanding the Wedding Cake Model in Criminal Justice: Classifications and Case Attrition

The Wedding Cake Model is a framework that categorizes crimes into layers based on severity and societal attention. It divides criminal offenses into misdemeanors, "ordinary" felonies, and "high-profile" felonies, each with different probabilities of trial and media coverage. This model also illustrates the concept of case attrition, showing how the number of cases diminishes at each stage of the criminal justice process—from arrest to conviction to sentencing. Additionally, the model helps to understand different crime types, including violent, property, public order, white-collar, organized, and high-tech crimes.

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Understanding the Wedding Cake Model in Criminal Justice: Classifications and Case Attrition

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  1. Today’s Agenda • Wedding Cakes and Funnels~ • Categories of Crime • Criminal Acts—specific types • Formative Assessment 

  2. Wedding Cake Model

  3. What is the “Wedding Cake Model”? • Breaks crimes into 3 layers (size/occurrence): • Misdemeanors • < 1 year in jail • “Ordinary” felonies • > 1 year in jail • “High profile” felonies • Celebrated cases

  4. Frequency (Bottom to top) Media Attention (top to bottom) Likelihood to go to trial (top to bottom) Wedding Cake Model

  5. Criminal Justice “Funnel” • Explains the concept of case attrition • Case Attrition • At each stage, the # of people in the system shrinks • Arrested > Charged • Charged > Convicted • Convicted > Sentenced • Probation > Prison

  6. 200 crimes committed 100 arrests 100 arrests 70 to prosecutor 70 to prosecutor 38 convictions 38 convictions 14 probation, 12 jail, 12 prison Not all crimes are reported. 30% are juvenile 10 dismissed by judge 35 plead guilty (5 go to trial) 2 acquitted Criminal Justice “Funnel”

  7. Criminal Justice Crime Typology

  8. What is Crime? • A wrong against society proclaimed by law and, if committed under certain circumstances, punishable by society. • DEFINABLE • PUNISHABLE

  9. SIX Categories of Crime Violent Property Public Order High-Tech Organized White-Collar

  10. How does society determine what IS a crime? • Consensus Model • basic agreement about norms and values • people of diverse backgrounds can share an idea about what is “right” and what is “wrong” • Conflict Model • Believe moral attitudes are not absolute • differing segments of society (age, race, gender, social class) are engaged in a struggle for control • victorious group codifies their values into law.

  11. Violent Crimes • Crimes against persons • Murder • Assault/battery • Rape • Robbery • Can be further classified by degree.

  12. Property Crimes • Goal is economic gain or destruction of property • Larceny/theft • Burglary • Arson

  13. Public Order Crimes • Closely linked to consensus model • often referred to as “victimless crimes” (include early puritanical laws). • Prostitution • Gambling • Illicit drug use

  14. White-Collar Crimes • Broadly defined • Committed by non-violent means to obtain personal or business advantage • Embezzlement • Fraud • Tax Evasion

  15. Organized Crime • Businesses that are operating illegitimately • Usually involves conspiratorial relationships • Often accomplished through use of violence or coercion.

  16. High-Tech Crime • “Cybercrimes” • Greatest increase in commission and investigation

  17. Violent Crimes Property Crimes Public Order Crimes White-Collar Crimes Organized Crimes High-Tech Crimes 6 6 9 5 2 2 If Completed Correctly

  18. What is the structure of the Criminal Justice System? • FEDERALISM • Local, State, and Federal enforcement • Court system • 51 Court systems in the USA • Corrections system • Prisons • Jails • Probation

  19. Two Assignments • Complete formative assessment • Categorizing Crimes • Crime Control vs. Due Process • NO BOOKS/NO NOTES • Complete writing response (prompt displayed on screen) • Both due by end of hour • Use remaining time to prepare for tomorrow’s quiz 

  20. Arson Property Assault Violent Battery Violent Bribery White-Collar Burglary Property Business Crimes White-Collar Classified by degrees Violent** Closely linked to consensus model Public-Order Crimes against persons Violent Victimless Crimes Public-Order Cyber Crimes High-Tech Embezzlement White-Collar Gambling Public-Order Crime Classifications

  21. Hacking High-Tech Illicit Drug Use Public-Order Often not prosecuted Public-Order Insurance Fraud White-Collar Larceny Property Most common Property Murder Violent Newest typology High-Tech Conspiratorial Relationships Organized Operates Illegitimately Organized Pick-Pocketing Property Crime Classifications

  22. Piracy High-Tech Prostitution Public-Order Public Drunkenness Public-Order Rape Violent Robbery Violent Sexual Assault Violent Shoplifting Property Tax Evasion White-Collar Theft Property Crime Classifications

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