Unit 1.1

Question 1

What is a crime?

Answer 1

Action or omission which constitutes an offence and is punishable by law

Question 2

What is Deviance?

Answer 2

Behaviour that violates social norms

Question 3

what are values + example?

Answer 3

general principles or guidelines for how we should live. what is good & bad etc.
Example: British Values

Question 4

What are norms?

Answer 4

specific rules or socially accepted standards that govern people’s behaviour in particular situations

Question 5

What are moral codes?

Answer 5

basic set of rules,values and principles held by an individual, group, organisation or society as a whole. eg: Police Code of Ethics

Question 6

What does Deviant rule breaking lead to?

Answer 6

critical, hostile or disapproving reactions from others which may involve punishing the deviant

Question 7

tell me about the forms of deviance

Answer 7

can range from serious acts such as rape to trivial things such as queue jumping. Deviant acts can also be criminal

Question 8

what are the 3 types of sanctions for deviance & what are they all forms of?

Answer 8

1. Formal sanctions: imposed by official bodies, punishments for breaking formal written laws
   2.Informal sanctions: used where rules are not formally written down, eg: telling someone off
   3.Positive sanctions: rewards for behaviour that people agree with eg: praise from parents/teachers

All are forms of social control

Question 9

Does deviance change over time?

Answer 9

yes- no fixed universal agreement

Question 10

What is the legal definition of criminal behaviour?

Answer 10

Any action punishable by law. For court to consider D’s action to be a crime there needs to be Mens Rea and Actus Reus

Question 11

What is mens rea?

Answer 11

guilty mind

Question 12

What is actus reus?

Answer 12

guilty act

Question 13

Tell me about strict liability

Answer 13

in some cases mens rea is not required, the wrongful act can be enough to convict someone. eg: employability cases

Question 14

Tell me about self defence

Answer 14

if an act is done in self-defence, it is not a crime as long as the force used was reasonable

Question 15

What is the social definition of criminal behaviour?

Answer 15

not all harmful acts are criminal eg: anti-pollution laws

Question 16

how do differing views build the social definition of criminality? (3)

Answer 16

1.public create own definition to what they think is criminal
2.not all criminal laws are enforced- low on police priority
3.laws changed to reflect publics view. some believe acts should be criminal whereas some believe it should not

Question 17

What are the 3 formal sanctions against crime?

Answer 17

1.Custodial sentences
2.Community sentences
3.Police sanctions

Question 18

what are custodial sentences?

Answer 18

serious offences are punished with custodial sentences - imprisonment or detention for young offenders

Question 19

what are community sentences & discharge?

Answer 19

-served in community rather than jail eg: probation, curfews and community payback
-discharge involves offender committing no further offences for a given period

Question 20

what are police sanctions?

Answer 20

in case of minor offences
-cautions
-conditional cautions
-penalty notices for disorder

Question 21

what are implications of committing a criminal act

Answer 21

-exclusion from certain occupations
-placed on sex offender register
-may be banned from certain countries/ need a special visa
-restrictions on adoption, jury service & standing for elected office
-declare for insurance