Unit 1

Question 1

Schram and Tibbetts definition of criminology

Answer 1

Criminology is the scientific study of crime and reason why people engage in criminal behavior

Question 2

Sutherland and Cressey’s definition of Criminology

Answer 2

Lawmaking
Focuses on the social, political, and
economic factors of why an action is a
crime
Lawbreaking
Why do people commit their first crime
How can we connect that to other people
Reactions to lawbreaking
How does the system respond to crime
How people respond to crime

Question 3

How is criminology unique from other examinations of crime

Answer 3

Relies on the scientific method
Test hypotheses to support major propositions
Social science

Question 4

Criminology vs. Criminal Justice

Answer 4

Criminology is the study of crime and criminals; more theoretical.
Criminal Justice is the different agencies (Police, Courts, Corrections)

Question 5

Legalistic approach to defining crime

Answer 5

Laws define crime

Question 6

Legal definition of crime

Answer 6

Crime is a human act that violates the criminal laws of a state, a Federal Government, or a local jurisdiction that has the power to make laws

Question 7

Consensus View

Answer 7

The belief that most people share common values and agree on common behaviors (crime is defined by social norms)

Question 8

Conflict View

Answer 8

The belief that criminal behavior is defined by groups in power to protect and advance their own self-interest

Question 9

Definition of deviance

Answer 9

Behavior that is not illegal but not the social norm

Question 10

Relationship between deviance and crime

Answer 10

Things can be seen as wrong and illegal

Question 11

Mala in se

Answer 11

Evil in itself (Rape, murder, incest)

Question 12

Mala Prohibita

Answer 12

Evil because it violates the law (Gambling)

Question 13

Misdemeanor

Answer 13

Less serious offense (Less than a year in prison)

Question 14

Felony

Answer 14

Serious crime (More than one year in prison)

Question 15

Definition of theory

Answer 15

A set of concepts linked together by a series of statements to explain why an event or phenomenon occurs

Question 16

Goals of theory (4 of them)

Answer 16

Summarize what is known about the phenomenon
Explain the occurrences of this phenomenon in the past
Predict future occurences of the phenomenon
Control the occurences of the phenomenon

Question 17

Characteristics of “good” theory (6 of them)

Answer 17

Parsimony
Broadness of scope
Logical consistency
Testability
Empirical validity
Policy implications

Question 18

Definition of causality

Answer 18

When a certain variable causes another variable to change

Question 19

Scientific notation (Independent/dependent variables)

Answer 19

Predictor variable (X) must come before the explanatory variable (Y)

Question 20

Criteria necessary to show causality (4 of them)

Answer 20

Temporal Ordering
Theoretical Rationale
Correlation
Absence of Spuriousness

Question 21

Definition of paradigm

Answer 21

Distinctive theoretical models or perspectives

Question 22

Major theoretical paradigms (4 of them)

Answer 22

Classical School
Positive School
Conflict/Critical Perspective
Integrated

Question 23

Parsimony

Answer 23

Explain phenomenons with the fewest concepts/propositions

Question 24

Broadness of scope

Answer 24

How much of a given phenomenon theory seeks to explain

Question 25

Logical Consistency

Answer 25

Concepts/propositions of theory make sense

Question 26

Testability

Answer 26

Theory can be put to empirical, scientific testing

Question 27

Empirical Validity

Answer 27

Theory is supported by scientific research

Question 28

Policy Implications

Answer 28

Theory can create realistic/useful guidance for changing the way society deals with phenomenon

Question 29

Temporal Ordering

Answer 29

Predictor variable (X) must come before the explanatory variable (Y)

Question 30

Correlation

Answer 30

A relationship between two variables

Question 31

Theoretical Rationale

Answer 31

Logical explanation why something causes crime

Question 32

Absence of spuriousness

Answer 32

Ability to rule out influence of third factors

Question 33

Classical School

Answer 33

Individuals have free will and chose crime

Question 34

Positive School

Answer 34

Crime is determined by factors that humans have little control over

Question 35

Conflict/Critical Perspective

Answer 35

Groups in power use the law as a tool to keep those with no power restrained

Question 36

Integrated

Answer 36

Combine the best aspects of multiple theories into a single better theoretical framework

Question 37

Three measures of crime

Answer 37

Official Data Victimization Data Self-Report Data

Question 38

Uniform Crime Report (UCR)

Answer 38

Police report crime to the FBI

Question 39

Index vs. non-index crimes

Answer 39

Index: Part 1 crimes (10 worst crimes) Non-index: Part 2 Lesser crimes

Question 40

Hierarchy rule

Answer 40

Only report the most serious crime as classified by the FBI

Question 41

National Incident-Based Reporting System (Nibrs)

Answer 41

Redesign of UCR

Question 42

National Crime Victimization Survey

Answer 42

Survey of households (Members 12 and up) Interviewed every 6 months Lasts 3 years 7 interviews total

Question 43

Self-Report Surveys

Answer 43

Asks individuals about their own offending

Question 44

Social Contract

Answer 44

People give up some freedoms for protection from the government

Question 45

Age of Enlightenment

Answer 45

Social and philosophical movement

Question 46

Thomas Hobbes

Answer 46

Put out the idea of the social contract

Question 47

Classical School

Answer 47

People act rationally and with free will

Question 48

Beccaria

Answer 48

Leading figure of Classical School

Question 49

Bentham

Answer 49

Leading pioneer in CJ reform in 18th century England

Question 50

Neoclassical School

Answer 50

Nearly identical to classical school except it considers aggravating and mitigating circumstances when determining punishment