UNIT 2 AC1.1

Question 1

What is the legal definition of crime?

Answer 1

Behaviours that break the laws set out by the legal system

Question 2

What is the definition of Actus Rea?

Answer 2

The guilty act

Question 3

What is the definition of Men’s Rea?

Answer 3

The guilty mind

Question 4

In law, a crime must have what two elements?

Answer 4

Men’s rea
Actus Rea

Question 5

What are the issues with the legal definition of crime?

Answer 5

Strict liability- for offences of ‘strict liability’, a men’s Rea is not needed which means the act is enough which goes against the definition
Self-defence- in some cases there may be an Actus and men’s Rea but a person can be found not guilty for example, acting out of self-defence which goes against the legal definition

Question 6

What is the social definition of crime?

Answer 6

A behaviour or an activity that offends the social code of a particular community

Question 7

What are the issues with the social definition of crime?

Answer 7

-this means there is not necessarily a relationship between what the public thinks should be a crime and what the law says is a crime. This creates a mismatch between the two definitions
- Crime will vary from community to community

Question 8

What is a summary offence?

Answer 8

A less serious offence, tried by magistrates

Question 9

What is an indictable offence?

Answer 9

More serious offences tried before the crown court, judge and jury

Question 10

What are four examples of a formal sanction (court sanction)?

Answer 10

• Custodial sentencing (prison for a period of time)
• Community sentences (this includes unpaid work, probation, curfew, and orders such as drug treatment)
• Fines (financial penalties)
• Discharge

Question 11

What are three examples of a formal sanction (non-court)?

Answer 11

-Cautions
-Conditional cautions (must stick to certain rules and restrictions)
-Penalty notices (fine)

Question 12

What is the definition of deviant?

Answer 12

Goes against societal morals, values and norms

Question 13

What are the three types of deviance?

Answer 13

• admired behaviour
• odd behaviour
• bad behaviour

Question 14

What is a formal sanction?

Answer 14

Given by official bodies E.G the government
For example, exclusion or being fired

Question 15

What is an informal sanction?

Answer 15

Sanctions from people around you.
E.G. name calling, grounding or labelling behaviour

Question 16

What is admired behaviour?

Answer 16

Unusual behaviour but praised

Question 17

What is odd behaviour?

Answer 17

Behaviour that is eccentric or bizarre

Question 18

What is bad behaviour?

Answer 18

Behaviour that is unusual and disapproved because it harms others E.G. cheating on a partner