AC1.1

Question 1

What is the assessment criteria for AC1.1?

Answer 1

Compare criminal behaviour and deviance

Question 2

Define norms

Answer 2

Behaviour is “normal” seen as acceptable by society.

Question 3

Define values (beliefs)

Answer 3

Are the beliefs of why a person does this behaviour.

Question 4

Define admired deviance.

Answer 4

Behaviour that is seen as extremely good or selfless.

Question 5

Define odd deviance.

Answer 5

Behaviour that goes against the norms of society.

Question 6

Define bad deviance.

Answer 6

An act that is criminal, not all criminal acts are seen as deviant.

Question 7

The legal definition of crime:

Answer 7

“An act punishable by law, as being forbidden by statute or injurious to the public welfare” (Oxford dictionary)

Question 8

The social definition of crime:

Answer 8

“An act is criminal if it is labelled as a crime by society”

Question 9

What is actus reus?

Answer 9

The physical element of a crime.

Question 10

What is men’s rea?

Answer 10

The mental element of a crime.

Question 11

What is the equation that the law goes by to find someone guilty?

Answer 11

Actus reus + mens rea + no intervening act + no valid defence = guilty

Question 12

What is the chain of causation?

Answer 12

The connection between the original cause and the subsequent result of that case. If an act happens which breaks the chain of caution (an intervening act?) which might make the defendant not guilty of the original act.

Question 13

What is social control?

Answer 13

The enforcement of conformity by society upon its members, either by law or by social pressure using sanctions.

Question 14

What is formal social control?

Answer 14

Crimes are formally controlled through sanctions given by formal agencies such as the police or courts.

Question 15

What is informal social control?

Answer 15

This refers to the reactions of individuals and groups which bring about conformity to norms and laws.

Question 16

What is an example of an act that is socially defined as criminal?

Answer 16

An example would be revenge porn. The government made a specific law banning it under the Criminal Justice and Courts Act (2015).

Another example would be stalking, this was not an offence until the Protection of Freedoms Act (2012)

Question 17

What is the equation that makes a defendant guilty?

Answer 17

Actus Reus (guilty act) + Mens Rea (guilty mind) + no intervening act + no valid defence = guilty.

Question 18

What is the chain of causation?

Answer 18

It is the connection between the original cause and subsequent result of that cause.

Question 19

What is an intervening act?

Answer 19

An act that breaks the chain of causation, which might make the defendant not guilty of the original act.

Question 20

What is a case example of an intervening act causing the chain of causation to break?

Answer 20

R V Jordan (1956) - The victim was stabbed in the stomach. He was treated in hospital and was healing well. He was given antibiotics by a doctor which caused a severe allergic reaction that caused him to die. The actions of the doctor were held to be an intervening act which caused the death. The defendant was not guilty of murder.

Question 21

What is a case example where the mens rea was not present?

Answer 21

R V Lamb (1967) - The defendant pointed a loaded gun at his friend in jest. He did not intend to injure or alarm the victim. Both the defendant and his friend did not know how the revolver worked, both thought there was no danger in pulling the trigger. The defendant pulled the trigger and the victim was killed.

Question 22

What is a case example where the actus reus was not present?

Answer 22

R V Arobieke (1988) - The defendant had been convicted of manslaughter on the basis that his presence at a railway station had caused the victim to attempt an escape by crossing the tracks, as a result he was electrocuted.

The CofA quashed his conviction on the fortune there had been no actus reus by the defendant, as the evidence showed that the defendant had physically threatened or chased the deceased.

Question 23

What is another case example where the actus reus was not present?

Answer 23

R V Woolin - The defendant threw his three month old baby to the ground in frustration when it would not stop crying, leading to the baby dying from a fractured skull.

The original jury found Woolin guilty of murder as he must have foreseen that there was a risk of serious injury. The sentence was eventually reduced to manslaughter.

Question 24

What are the three defences to a crime?

Answer 24

1) Insanity
2) Self-defence
3) A break in the chain of causation

Question 25

What is an explanation for insanity as a defence?

Answer 25

The McNaughton rule dictates that a person may be considered not responsible for a crime if their state of mind is in a diminished capacity, or if they were unaware they were wrong.

Question 26

Which famous killers pleaded insanity?

Answer 26

Peter Sutcliffe - The Yorkshire Ripper

Jeffery Dahmer

Question 27

Was Jeffery Dahmer able to plead guilty of insanity?

Answer 27

No, his plea was rejected and he was convicted of all 15 murder chargers and sentenced to 15 consecutive life sentences.

Question 28

What is social control?

Answer 28

The enforcement of conformity by society upon its members, either by law or by social pressure using sanctions.

Question 29

What is formal social control?

Answer 29

Crimes are controlled through sanctions given by formal agencies such as the police and courts.

Question 30

What is informal social control?

Answer 30

This refers to the reactions of individuals and groups which bring about conformity to norms and laws.