Crime

Crime

Crime

What are the principle types of crime in the United States?

What are the characteristics of the American criminal justice system?

Crime

Any act that is labeled as such by an authority

Prohibited by law Punishable by the governmentEx. Robbing a bank vs. swimmer

watching someone drown?Ex. Good Samaritan Law

Crime

Who commits crimes? Sex: men more likely than women Race: Afr. Am. 12% of population but

account for 30% of arrests(no causal link betw/ race and crime) Age: half of arrests involve people 25

and below

Crime Statistics

Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) published by FBI

Major source of crime data Compiled using local police dept.

statistics Good source but is limitedWhy?

Crime Statistics Does not reflect all complaints/police

officer discretion Individuals less likely to report crimes

if family/friends are involved Police tend to file reports on serious

crimes when higher social classes victims) are involved

Police more likely to file when person making complaint is respectful/compliant

Crime Statistics

2000 US Census:Safest US Cities –in Southwest and along

Pacific CoastLowest Homicide Rates-El Paso,TX;

Austin,TX; San Jose, CA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-3vQ2ouOuM

Types of Crime

UCR 29 classifications pg.188 Grouped into 5 categories:Violent crimeCrimes against propertyVictimless crimesWhite collar crimeOrganized crime

Violent crimeViolent crime

Murder, forcible rape, robbery, Murder, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assaultaggravated assault

UCR…Every 22 seconds in the US, UCR…Every 22 seconds in the US, violent crime is committedviolent crime is committed

Most victims tend to be Afr. AmMost victims tend to be Afr. Am 18-24 yr old Afr. Am are victimization 18-24 yr old Afr. Am are victimization

rate of 8 of AA women, white men, rate of 8 of AA women, white men, and 30 times of white womenand 30 times of white women

Violent crimesViolent crimes

Committed with guns and other Committed with guns and other weaponsweapons

65% of all murders committed 65% of all murders committed w/guns w/guns

Rate of handgun used in homicides is Rate of handgun used in homicides is higher in US than in any other higher in US than in any other countrycountry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQo-orO8UHU-orO8UHU

White Collar CrimeWhite Collar Crime

Offenses committed by individuals of Offenses committed by individuals of high social status in their high social status in their professional livesprofessional lives

EX. Michael Milken, Martha StewartEX. Michael Milken, Martha Stewart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twRhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twRLyD2MU1gLyD2MU1g

Crime against PropertyCrime against Property

BurglaryBurglary Larceny (theft other than auto)Larceny (theft other than auto) Motor vehicle theftMotor vehicle theft ArsonArson Committed every 3 secs in the USCommitted every 3 secs in the US Crime rate connected to changes in Crime rate connected to changes in

population…butpopulation…but

1980’s/1990’s increase due to illegal drug 1980’s/1990’s increase due to illegal drug useuse

Victimless CrimeVictimless Crime

ProstitutionProstitution GamblingGambling Illegal drug useIllegal drug use VagrancyVagrancy

Offenders may not suffer, what are the Offenders may not suffer, what are the consequences for society?consequences for society?

Organized CrimeOrganized CrimeCriminal syndicate:Criminal syndicate: A large scale organization of A large scale organization of

professional criminals controlling professional criminals controlling some vice or business through some vice or business through violence or threat of violenceviolence or threat of violence

Huge $$$ unfair labor practices, drug Huge $$$ unfair labor practices, drug trafficking, illegal gambling, loan trafficking, illegal gambling, loan sharkingsharking

Organized crimeOrganized crime

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?vwww.youtube.com/watch?v=6Pq99skwBmM=6Pq99skwBmM

Criminal justice systemCriminal justice system

PolicePolice CourtsCourts CorrectionsCorrections (Juvenile justice system)(Juvenile justice system)

PolicePolice

Police discretion- considerable Police discretion- considerable power to determine who gets power to determine who gets arrestedarrested

5 Factors considered in arrest:5 Factors considered in arrest:

5 Factors5 Factors

1.1. SeriousnessSeriousness

2.2. Victim’s wishesVictim’s wishes

3.3. Attitude of suspectAttitude of suspect

4.4. Witnesses or bystandersWitnesses or bystanders

5.5. Race- more likely to arrest/use force Race- more likely to arrest/use force w/African Americans (racial w/African Americans (racial profiling) profiling)

*what about after 9/11, or Hispanics?*what about after 9/11, or Hispanics?

PolicePolice

Racial Profiling- practice of assuming that Racial Profiling- practice of assuming that non white Americans more likely to non white Americans more likely to commit crimes than white Americanscommit crimes than white Americans

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKaiNMOhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKaiNMOkpnAkpnA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR6j3Skphttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR6j3Skpuxkuxk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR6j3Skphttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR6j3Skpuxkuxk

CourtsCourts

PurposePurpose

1.1. Determines the guilt or innocence Determines the guilt or innocence of an accused person by means of of an accused person by means of trialtrial

2.2. Assigns punishmentAssigns punishment

CourtsCourts

90% Plea Bargained90% Plea Bargained

(legal negotiations for accused: lesser (legal negotiations for accused: lesser charge/lighter sentence)charge/lighter sentence)

Reduces volume of case Reduces volume of case loads/expensive trialsloads/expensive trials

CorrectionsCorrections

Imprisonment, parole, probation, Imprisonment, parole, probation, community service, finescommunity service, fines

4 functions 4 functions

CorrectionsCorrections

1.1. RetributionRetribution-revenge for -revenge for victim/societyvictim/society

2.2. DeterrenceDeterrence-discourage-discourage

3.3. RehabilitationRehabilitation-reform and return-reform and return

4.4. Social protection-Social protection- limiting their limiting their freedom/eliminating threatfreedom/eliminating threat

CorrectionsCorrections

Effectiveness determined by Effectiveness determined by recidivism (repeated criminal recidivism (repeated criminal behavior)behavior)

62% charged w/new crimes62% charged w/new crimes 41% will return to prison w/in 3 years41% will return to prison w/in 3 years

What do you think the goals of criminal What do you think the goals of criminal punishment should be?punishment should be?

Juvenile JusticeJuvenile Justice

33rdrd largest category largest category 18 and under18 and under Before 1960 had fewer rights and not Before 1960 had fewer rights and not

protectedprotected