Chapter 4

Crime and Social Control

Chapter Outline

The Global Context: International Crime and Violence

Sources of Crime Statistics Sociological Theories of Crime Types of Crime Demographic Patterns of Crime The Costs of Crime and Social Control Understanding Crime and Social Control

Crime Throughout the World

Similarities: There is no country without crime. Most countries have the same components in their

criminal justice systems: police, courts, and prisons. Worldwide, adult males make up the largest category

of crime suspects. In all countries theft is the most common crime

committed and violent crime is a relatively rare event.

Transnational Crimes

Offenses whose inception, prevention, and/or direct or indirect effects involve more than one country.

Examples of Transnational Crimes

Russian ruble, precious metals, arms are smuggled out of the country.

Chinese Triads operate rings of prostitution, drugs, and other organized crime.

Children are trafficked through Canada and Mexico for child pornography.

Major Types of Crime Statistics

Official statistics Victimization surveys Self-report offender surveys

Four Measures of Serious Violent Crime

Problems With Official Statistics

Many crimes are not reported. Some reported crimes are not recorded by

police. Some rates may be exaggerated.

Structural-Functionalist Theories

Strain theory Control theory Subcultural theories

Strain Theory

People adapt to inconsistency between means and goals in society.

Methods of adaptation: conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism and rebellion.

Merton’s Strain Theory

Mode of Adaptation

Seeks Culturally Defined Goals?

Uses Structurally Defined Means to Achieve Them?

Conformity Yes Yes

Innovation Yes No

Merton’s Strain Theory

Mode of Adaptation

Seeks Culturally Defined Goals?

Uses Structurally Defined Means to Achieve Them?

Ritualism No Yes

Retreatism No No

RebellionNo-Seeks to

replaceNo-seeks to

replace

Control Theory

Social bonds constrain some individuals from violating social norms:– Attachment to significant others.– Commitment to conventional goals.– Involvement in conventional activities.– Belief in the moral standards of society.

Subcultural Theories

Certain groups or subcultures in society have values and attitudes conducive to violence.

Members of these subcultures adopt the crime-promoting attitudes of the group.

Conflict Perspective

Social inequality leads to crimes as means of economic survival.

Those in power define what is criminal. Law enforcement penalizes those without

power and benefits those with power.

Symbolic Interactionist Perspective Labeling Theory

Being labeled deviant leads to further deviant behavior:– The labeled person is denied opportunities

to engage in nondeviant behavior.– The labeled person adopts a deviant self-

concept and acts accordingly.

Question

Crime strengthens group cohesion, provides employment opportunities, and acts as a catalyst for social change. Which sociological perspective would focus on the benefits of crime?

A. symbolic interactionismB. structural functionalismC. exchange theoryD. conflict theory

Answer: B

Crime strengthens group cohesion, provides employment opportunities, and acts as a catalyst for social change. The structural functionalism perspective would focus on the benefits of crime.

Question

Carol steals a candy bar from a drugstore. She is apprehended and called a thief. When Carol returns to school, no one wants to talk to her or sit with her at lunch. Carol later finds acceptance among a group of girls who shoplift. While hanging out with them, Carol joins in the shoplifting. This is an example of which theory?

A. labeling theoryB. strain theoryC. associationD. control theory

Answer: A

This is an example of labeling theory.

Types Of Crime

Index crimes Vice crime Organized crime White-collar crime Computer crime Juvenile delinquency

Index Crimes

Homicide Aggravated assault Rape Robbery

Burglary Arson Motor vehicle theft Larceny 

Index Crime Rates

Violent Crime

Rate per 100,000 (2003)

% Change in Rate (2002-

03)

% Cleared (2003)

Murder 5.7 +.1 62.4

Forcible Rape

32.1 -2.8 44

Robbery 142.2 -2.7 26.3

Aggravated Assault

205 -3.9 46.5

Index Crime Rates

Property Crime

Rate per 100,000 (2003)

% Change in Rate (2002-03)

% Cleared (2003)

Burglary 740.5 -.9 13.1

Larceny/theft 2414.5 -1.5 18

Motor Vehicle Theft

433.4 +.1 13.1

Arson 37.1 +2.2 16.7

Question

Have you ever stolen little things worth between $2 and $50?

A. Yes

B. No

Question

Have you ever stolen things worth more than $50?

A. Yes

B. No

Vice Crimes

Illegal activities that have no complaining party and are often called victimless crimes.

Include using illegal drugs, engaging in or soliciting prostitution, illegal gambling, and pornography.

Organized Crime

Criminal activity conducted by members of a hierarchically arranged structure devoted primarily to making money through illegal means.

White Collar Crime

Crimes committed in course of employment or by corporations in the interest of maximizing profit.

Occupational - individuals commit crimes in the course of their employment.

Corporate - corporations violate law to maximize profit.

Types of White-Collar Crime

Crimes against consumers

Crimes against employees

Deceptive advertising Health and safety violations

Antitrust violations Wage and hour violations

Dangerous productsDiscriminatory hiring

practices

Manufacturer kickbacks Illegal labor practices

Physician insurance fraud

Unlawful surveillance practices

Types of White-Collar Crime

Crimes against the public

Crimes against employers

Toxic waste disposal Embezzlement

Pollution violations Pilferage

Tax fraudMisappropriation of government funds

Security violationsCounterfeit production of

goods

Police brutality Business credit fraud

Percentage of Arrests by Sex, Age, and Race, 2003

Computer Crime

Any law violation in which a computer is the target or means of criminal activity.

One of the fastest growing crimes in U.S. Hacking - unauthorized computer intrusion. Identity theft - stealing of someone else’s

identification to obtain credit.

Question

Price-fixing, anti-trust violations and "churning" are examples of what type of crime?

A. corporate violence

B. corporate crime

C. victimless crime

D. organized crime

Answer: B

Price-fixing, anti-trust violations and "churning" are examples of corporate crime.

Demographics and Crime

Men are more likely to commit violent crimes than women.

Highest arrest rates involve individuals under age 25.

If current trends continue, by 2020, 2 in 3 black males ages 18 to 34 will be in prison.

Race and Crime: Causally Related

1. Statistics reflect the behaviors and policies of criminal justice actors, so the high rate of arrests, conviction, and incarceration of minorities may reflect bias against minorities.

2. Nonwhites are overrepresented in the lower classes.

3. Criminal justice system contact, higher for nonwhites, may lead to a lower position in the stratification system.

Regional Crime Rates

Costs of Crime

In 2003 there were more than 16,500 victims of a homicide.

A total of 113,025 people a year die from corporate and professional crime and misconduct annually: – 56,425 workplace-related deaths from illness or

injury– 9,600 deaths from unsafe products– 35,000 deaths from environmental pollution– 12,000 deaths from unnecessary surgery.

Economic Costs of Crime

Direct losses from crime:– In 2003 the average loss of destroyed or damaged

property as a result of arson was $11,942. Costs associated with theft.

– In 2003, $8.6 billion was lost as a result of motor vehicle theft.

Cost associated with criminal violence.– Medical cost of treating crime victims is

approximately $5 billion annually.

Economic Costs of Crime

Costs associated with the production and sale of illegal goods and services.

Cost of prevention and protection– It is estimated that Americans spend $65 billion

annually on self-protection items. The cost of social control—the criminal justice

system, law enforcement, litigative and judicial activities, corrections, and victims’ assistance. – The cost of the criminal justice system is

estimated to be $90 billion annually and growing.

Principle of Deterrence

The use of harm or threat of harm to prevent unwanted behaviors.

In 2003 the United States had 663,796 full-time law enforcement officers and 285,146 civilian support staff, yielding 3.5 law enforcement employees per 1,000 inhabitants.

Question

Have you ever been arrested?

A. Yes

B. No

Rehabilitation and Incapacitation

Rehabilitation - Helping offenders rehabilitate using education and job training, individual and group therapy, substance abuse counseling, and behavior modification.

 Incapacitation - Putting offender in prison.

Prison Population Rates Per 100,000 and Rank in World (May 10, 2005)

Capital Punishment

With capital punishment the state takes the life of a person as punishment for a crime.

38 states allow capital punishment. In 2004:

– 59 executions took place in 11 states, with over 3,374 inmates on death row.

– 3,797 people were executed in 25 countries despite the global trend toward abolition of the death penalty.

Brady Bill

Passed in 1993, requires 5-day waiting period on handgun purchases so sellers can do a background check on the buyer.

Quick Quiz

1. According to your text, which is the most common crime?

A. rape

B. theft

C. murder

D. arson

Answer: B

Theft is the most common crime.

2. Which crimes are considered victimless crimes?

A. street crimes

B. vice crimes

C. white collar crimes

D. violent crimes

Answer: B

Vice crimes are considered victimless crimes.

3. Advocates of incapacitation believe recidivism can be reduced by:

A. capital punishment.

B. changing the criminal.

C. utilizing half way houses.

D. placing the offender in prison.

Answer: D

Advocates of incapacitation believe recidivism can be reduced by placing the offender in prison.

4. Which mode of adaptation is most associated with criminal behavior?

A. conformity

B. ritualism

C. retreatism

D. innovation

Answer: D

Innovation is the mode most associated with criminal behavior.