CRIME AND JUSTICE IN AMERICA

• Crime in America

• Defining crime

• How much crime is there?

• Criminal victimization

• Crime and justice as public policy issues

Crime in America

• Crime in American History and trends in the level of crime

• Crime in America compared to other industrialized countries

Defining Crime

• What is crime?

• Sources of definitions of crime– Who makes the decisions?– Consensus model– Conflict model

• A specific act of commission or omission in violation of the law for which a punishment is prescribed.

Crime Defined

•Law reflects the need for order.Law reflects the need for order.

•Law results from a consensus on Law results from a consensus on widely shared values in society.widely shared values in society.

•Law is an impartial system to protect Law is an impartial system to protect the public.the public.

•Law provides neutral means of Law provides neutral means of resolving disputes.resolving disputes.

Consensus Model

• • Politically powerful groups influence the Politically powerful groups influence the content of criminal law.content of criminal law.

• “• “Mala prohibitaMala prohibita” offenses are prohibited by ” offenses are prohibited by government but not wrong in themselves. (Cf. government but not wrong in themselves. (Cf. ““mala in semala in se” – wrong in themselves).” – wrong in themselves).

• • Harsh penalties are sometimes enforced on Harsh penalties are sometimes enforced on the poor or disadvantaged while the powerful the poor or disadvantaged while the powerful are given lighter sentences.are given lighter sentences.

Conflict Model

Types of Crime

• Level of crime– Misdemeanor– Felony

• Categories of crime– Occupational crime– Organized crime– Visible crime– Crimes without victims– Political crimes

•Committed in the context of legal business or profession:

- For the benefit of the employing organization.- For the benefit of the employing organization.- Through the exercise of government authority.- Through the exercise of government authority.- Professional crimes by doctors, lawyers or - Professional crimes by doctors, lawyers or stockbrokers. stockbrokers.- Employee theft, false claims or embezzlement.- Employee theft, false claims or embezzlement.

Types of Occupational Crime

• A framework for the perpetuation of criminal acts - usually in fields such as gambling, drugs, and prostitution - providing illegal services that are in great demand.

Organized Crime

• Offenses against persons and property committed primarily by members of the lower class.

• Most upsetting to the public.

Visible Crime (street crime)

Offenses involving a willing and private Offenses involving a willing and private exchange of illegal goods and services that are exchange of illegal goods and services that are in strong demand. Participants do not feel they in strong demand. Participants do not feel they are being harmed, but these crimes are are being harmed, but these crimes are prosecuted on the ground that society as a prosecuted on the ground that society as a whole is injured. Includes activities such as:whole is injured. Includes activities such as:

•GamblingGambling•Drug Sales and UseDrug Sales and Use•ProstitutionProstitution

Crimes Without Victims

• Acts that constitute a threat against the state such as treason, sedition (rebellion), or espionage.

Political Crimes

Cybercrime

• Use of computers and internet

• Various different types– Information theft– Vice– Embezzlement– “Vandalism” (i.e. hacking)

How much crime is there?• Measuring crime

• Uniform crime reports

• National crime victimization survey

• Trends in crime

?

Measured?Measured? Defined?

Defined?

Counted?Counted?

How is Crime….

• Murder and non-negligent manslaughter

• Aggravated assault

• Forcible rape

• Robbery

* Burglary

* Larceny/theft

* Motor vehicle theft

* Arson

VIOLENT CRIME NON-VIOLENT CRIME

Major Uniform Crime Report Index Crime Groups

• Not all crime is reported.

• Administrative errors in recording data:– Interpreting UCR definitions.– Systematic counting errors.– Deliberately altered or manipulated data.

• Methodological problems.

Assessment of Uniform Crime Reports

• Definitions of crimes will be revised.

• More crimes will be included in each category.

• Other changes to make the data more accurate.

UCR

Revising the UCR - NIBRS

• Data is gathered by the Bureau of Census and

compiled by the Bureau of Justice Statistics.• Sample includes 100,000 people in 50,000

households.• Respondents are over the age of 12.• Respondents queried every six months about

household and personal victimizations.

National Crime Victim Survey

RapeRapeRobbery (personal)Robbery (personal)Assault (aggravated and simple)Assault (aggravated and simple)Household burglaryHousehold burglaryLarceny (personal and household)Larceny (personal and household)Motor vehicle theftMotor vehicle theft

NCVS Crimes

UCR NCVSScopeScope - Crimes reported to - Crimes reported to the police in most jurisdictionsthe police in most jurisdictionsCollection MethodCollection Method - Police - Policedepartments and FBIdepartments and FBIKinds of Information Kinds of Information - OffenseOffensecounts; crime clearances; personscounts; crime clearances; personsarrested, persons charged;arrested, persons charged;officers killed, characteristics officers killed, characteristics of homicide victims.of homicide victims.SponsorSponsor - FBI FBI

ScopeScope - Both reported and - Both reported andunreported to police. Nationunreported to police. Nationas a whole.as a whole.Collection MethodCollection Method - - Survey InterviewSurvey InterviewKinds of InformationKinds of Information --Details about victims and Details about victims and crimes - reported and crimes - reported and unreported. Use of weapons,unreported. Use of weapons,injuries, economic effects.injuries, economic effects.SponsorSponsor - Bureau of - Bureau ofJustice Statistics.Justice Statistics.

Comparison – UCR vs. NCVS

Crime Trends, 1973-2001

• Crime rates are not steadily rising.

• Most property crimes have dropped.

• Violent crime has dropped since 1993.

• Males 16-24 are the most crime prone group.

Violent Crime

Crime in General

Explaining Crime Trends

Youth Population and Crime

CRIME VICTIMIZATION• Victimology

• Who is victimized?

• The impact of crime

• Fear of crime

• Victims in the criminal justice system

Victimology – the study of victims• Emerged in the 1950s

• Change in the way that we study crime

• New focus– Who is victimized?– Impact of crime– Role of victims in Criminal Justice process

Where Does Crime Take Place?

Module 2 - 11

Who are the victims of crime?

Relative victimization rates

Intra vs. Inter racial crime

Why some people are victims

The Impact of Crime• Economic costs• Psychological and

social costs• Criminal justice

system operating costs

Fear of Crime• Limits freedom• Sometimes out of

proportion to actual risk

• Increasing

Victims in the Criminal Justice system• Victims often

overlooked• System becoming

more sensitive• Role of victims in

crime

Women and Crime• Little early research

• New theories

• Increasingly arrested

Crime and Justice as Public Policy Issues

• Maintaining order vs. protecting rights

• Differing perspectives on the causes of crime and its cures