to access web-based resources supporting criminology today, please visit:
TRANSCRIPT
To access Web-based resources supporting Criminology Today, please visit:
http://talkjustice.com/cybrary.asphttp://talkjustice.com/cybrary.asp
http://crimtoday.comhttp://crimtoday.com
http://www.prenhall.com/schmallegerhttp://www.prenhall.com/schmalleger
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Chapter 1
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What is Criminology?
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What is Crime?
• Legalistic
• Political
• Sociological
• Psychological
Perspectives
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Legalistic
What is Crime?Perspectives
Human conduct in violation of the criminal laws of a state, the federal government, or…
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… a local jurisdiction that has the power to make such laws
What is Crime?
Legalistic
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Crime is the result of criteria that have been built into the law by powerful groups, which...
What is Crime?Political
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What is Crime?Political
illegal
…are then used to label selected undesirable forms of behavior as
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Sees crime as an anti-social act of such a nature that its repression
What is Crime?Sociological
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Sees crime as an anti-social act of such a nature that its repression
What is Crime?Sociological
is necessary to the preservation of the existing system of society
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Crime is problem behavior that contravenes the criminal law and results in difficulties…
What is Crime?Psychological
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…in living within a framework of generally accepted social arrangements
What is Crime?Psychological
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Crime and DevianceDeviant Behavior
or is statistically different from the average
Human activity that violates social norms
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What Should Be Criminal?
• Consensus perspective
• Pluralist perspective
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Consensus perspectiveConsensus perspective
Laws should be enacted to criminalize certain forms of behavior when…
What Should Be Criminal?
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Consensus perspectiveConsensus perspective
…members of society generally agree that such laws are necessary
What Should Be Criminal?
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Pluralist perspectivePluralist perspective
What Should Be Criminal?
Behaviors are typically criminalized through a political process only…
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Pluralist perspectivePluralist perspective
…after debate over the appropriate course of action
What Should Be Criminal?
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Usually the political process takes the form of legislation and appellate court action
What Should Be Criminal?
Pluralist perspectivePluralist perspective
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Medical Marijuana in California
What Should Be Criminal?
Pluralist perspectivePluralist perspective
Example:
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Crime ExpertsCriminologistCriminologist
A person who studies crime, criminals and criminal behavior
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A specialist in the collection and examination of the physical evidence of crime
Crime ExpertsCriminalistCriminalist
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Criminology
An interdisciplinary profession built around the scientific study of crime and criminal behavior,…
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...including their manifestations, causes, legal aspects, and control
Criminology
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• A social scientific discipline
• An interdisciplinary field of study
Criminology
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• A profession
• Cross-professional
Criminology
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Criminal Justice
The scientific study of crime, the criminal law, and the components of the justice system,…
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Criminal Justice
…including the police, courts and corrections
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Social Policy &Theory
• Social problems perspective
• Social responsibility perspective
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• Crime is a social event
• Crime is a social construction
Social Policy &Theory
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• Crime embraces the concept of social relativity
Social Policy &Theory
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• Offender
• Victim
• Society
• Justice system
Social Policy &TheoryCrime means different things to the:
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Crime and Criminal Behavior
• Social in nature
• Controlled by an effective social policy
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