Crime and Criminal Justice Chapter 9 Crime and Criminal Justice

Chapter Outline Crime and Deviance Types of Crime Crime and Organization Race, Class, Gender and Crime The Criminal Justice System: Police, Courts and the Law Terrorism As International Crime: A Global Perspective

Measuring Crime: How Much Is There? Data show that violent crime peaked in 1990, but decreased through the 1990s. Since 2002, assault and robbery have continued to decrease, although murder and rape have increased. Crime is greatly affected by how well the economy is doing—particularly the level of unemployment.

Personal and Property Crime Personal crimes violent or nonviolent crimes directed against people. (Murder, aggravated assault, forcible rape, and robbery). Property crimes theft without threat of bodily harm (burglary, larceny, auto theft, arson).

Personal and Property Crime Victimless crimes violate laws but are not listed in the FBI’s serious crime index. (Gambling, illegal drug use, prostitution) Hate crimes assaults and other malicious acts motivated by bias, including those based on race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnic or national origin, or disability.

White-collar or Elite Crime Criminal activities by persons of high social status who commit their crimes in the context of their occupation Examples: embezzlement, insider trading, tax evasion, accounting practices that make the company appear more wealthy. In terms of dollars, white-collar crime is much more consequential for society than street crimes.

Organized Crime Committed by organized groups, typically involving the provision of illegal goods and services. Ethnic and family ties, are the basis for membership with groups dominating and replacing each other in different industries. Industries are organized in the same kind of hierarchy as legitimate businesses.

State-Organized Crime Committed by government officials in their jobs as representatives of the government . Example: John M. Poindexter lied to Congress about the Iran-Contra scandal. The scandal involved the U.S. sale of military weapons to Iran with the profits used to finance the Contras in Nicaragua. The U.S. Congress had explicitly forbidden monetary aid to the Contras.

Organizational Crime and Deviance Crime that occurs within the context of a formal organization and is sanctioned by the norms and operating principles of the organization. Can occur within any kind of organization—corporate, educational, religious, and, governmental.

Examples of Organizational Crime and Deviance Scandals involving sexual assault by Catholic priests, and cover-ups by assigning offending priests to different parishes. In the 1980s, Beech Nut baby foods claimed their “nutritionists prepare fresh-tasting … fruits, cereals, and juices without artificial flavoring.” They were found to be selling sugar water colored brown to resemble apple juice. Deviant stock trading and accounting practices of the Enron Corporation of Houston, Texas led to its downfall early in 2002.

Race, Class and Crime Arrest data shows a clear pattern of differential arrest along the lines of race, gender and class. Poor are more likely to be arrested for crime. African Americans are twice as likely to be arrested for crime than are Whites.

Gender and Crime Women’s participation in crime has been increasing. Women continue to be disadvantaged in society are more likely to be in jobs that present opportunities for crimes. Rape is one of the most underreported and highest growing crimes.

The Policing of Minorities Minority communities are policed more heavily. Police are more likely to use force against minority suspects. Racial profiling is widely used by police.

Race and Sentencing Minority citizens arrested for a crime experience: Higher bails Less plea bargaining success More guilty verdicts Higher sentences 42% percent of death row prisoners are black.

Law and Social Change Brown v. Board of Education (1954) - legally sanctioned segregation. Supreme Court decisions permitting abortion under certain conditions.

Terrorism Motivated by political, ethnic and religious conflicts Linked to other forms of deviance: drug trade Technology allows new risks: computer viruses and bio terrorism