1.1 Flashcards
(22 cards)
What is a value?
General principles or guidelines for how we should live our lives. Whats right and wrong, good or bad.
What is a norm?
Specific rules or socially accepted standard ads thst govern out behaviour in particular situations. Norms are based around a places values.
What is a moral code?
Set of basic rules and principles held by an individual, group organisation or society as a whole.
Define deviance
Behaviour that differs from normal, behaviour that is unusual uncommon or oit of the ordinary. Can be unusual in different ways.
What are the 3 types of deviance?
- Unusual and good- risking one’s life for another person.
- Unusual and Eccentric or bizzare- talking to trees or hoarding loads of newspapers.
- Usual and bad- physically attacking someone randomly.
What are the 2 types of sanctions?
Formal and informal.
What do the 2 types of sanctions mean?
Formal: Given by authorities such as the police, courts, schools or other institutions.
Informal: Used when the rule broken is not formally written down for example someone may get a slap on the wrist.
Definition of criminal behaviour.
An action that goes against written law.
To be a crime what must an action have?
Actus reus- guilty act
Mens rea- guilty mind
What are the exceptions for actus reus and mens rea?
Strict liability- If the action committed (actus reus) is bad enough mens rea is not needed eg a factory owner neglecting health and safety rules.
Self defense- if mens Rea was present but the act was in self defense it isn’t a crime.
What are the 3 ways in which criminal acts can be defined socially?
Differing views- how different people view Whats criminal or not eg someone going slightly over the speed limit may not consider themselves as criminals.
Law enforcement- some crimes come low on the police priority list eg white collar crime is too complex.
Law making- Not all acts people think should be a crime are actually criminal according to law. Sometimes laws are changed to reflect changing public attitudes eg stalking.
What can the different kinds of criminal acts categorised into?
Seriousness or subject matter.
What is seriousness in relation to defining criminal acts and what is the term broken down into?
Summary offences- Less serious offences such as speeding. Tried by the Magistrates.
Indictable offences- More serious like rape or murder. Tried in a crown court and given harsher sentences.
What is subject matter in relation to defining criminal acts?
Idea of questioning how the crime was committed eg through violence or dishonesty. There are several ways of doing this:
Violence against the person
Sexual offences
Offences against property
Fraud and forgery
Criminals damage
Drug offences
Public order offences
Aside from formal and informal sanctions what are the other types of sanctions?
Court and police.
What can court sanctions be split into?
Custodial and community.
What are custodial sentences (court sanctions)
Imprisonment or detention in a youth centre. The length is decided by severity and uo to 2012 courts could impose an indeterminate sentence if the crime was severe.
What are community sentences ( court sanction)
Serve the community rather than spend time in jail. Can be done through fines or discharge eg a conditional discharge is when an offender doesn’t commit another crime in a specific period.
What are police sanctions split into?
Cautions- Warnings given my police or court, low level, must accept the caution.
Conditional cautions- Must stick to a set of rules if you don’t you could be charged.
Penalty notices for disorder- You will not be convicted if you pay the penalty. If you disagree with the penalty you can be tried.
What can happen to those issued with a criminal record?
Exclusions from certain employment paths eg teaching
May be placed on the ViSOR
Banned from travel
Restrictions on adoption, jury duty and standing for elected office.
What is a crime that is criminal but not deviant?
Possession of cannabis- Some see it as not deviant and a common practice however it is technically criminal.
What is something that’s deviant but not criminal?
Owning 23 cats- it is eccentric and bizarre but not criminal.
