Chapter 4 Crime and Violence Key Terms

 transnational crime Offenses whose inception, prevention, and/or direct or indirect effects involve more than one country.  crime A violation of a federal, state, or local criminal law.

 crime rate Number of crimes per 100,000 population.  clearance rates Measure the percentage of cases in which an arrest and official charge have been made and turned over to the courts.

 strain theory When legitimate means of acquiring culturally defined goals are limited by the structure of society, the resulting strain may lead to crime.  subcultural theory Certain groups or subcultures in society have values and attitudes that are conducive to crime and violence.

 control theory Bond between individuals and society constrains some individuals from violating social norms.  labeling theory Being labeled as deviant often leads to further deviant behavior.

 differential association Through interaction with others, individuals learn the values and attitudes associated with crime as well as the techniques and motivations for criminal behavior.  index offenses The most serious crimes in the U.S.

 acquaintance rape Rape committed by someone the victim knows.  classic rape Rapist was a stranger who used a weapon and the attack resulted in serious bodily injury.

 victimless crime Illegal activities that have no complaining party.  organized crime Criminal activity conducted by members of a hierarchically arranged structure devoted primarily to making money through illegal means.

 white-collar crime Crimes committed in course of employment or by corporations in the interest of maximizing profit.  corporate violence The production of unsafe products and failure of corporations to provide safe working environment for employees.

 computer crime Any law violation in which a computer is the target or means of criminal activity.  racial profiling Targeting suspects based on race status.

 deterrence The use of harm or threat of harm to prevent unwanted behaviors.  rehabilitation Helping offenders rehabilitate using education and job training, individual and group therapy, substance abuse counseling, and behavior modification.

 incapacitation Putting offender in prison.  Brady Bill Passed in 1993, requires 5-day waiting period on handgun purchases so sellers can do a background check on the buyer.

 restorative justice A philosophy primarily concerned with repairing the victim-offender- community relation, a direct response to the concerns of an adversarial criminal justice system that encourages offenders to deny, justify, or otherwise avoid taking responsibility for their actions.