Chapter 6 Crime and Violence

Crime Crime – violation of the criminal laws enacted by federal, state, or local governments –Misdemeanor – a less serious crime punishable by less than a year in prison –Felony – a more serious crime punishable by at least one year in prison Approximately 12 million serious crimes reported by the police each year – FBI, 2006 –Researchers suggest nearly half of serious crimes in society are not reported Crime in the United States: Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) –Crimes against property –Crimes against persons

Violence Violence – behavior that causes injury to people or damage to property 1.Actor’s intention 2.Conform to or violate social norms and values 3.Support or threaten the social order 4.Violence committed by or against the government

Patterns and Trends Murder – 16,692 (2005) Rape – 93,934 Aggravated Assault – 862,000, nearly 2/3 of all reported violent crime Robbery – 417,000, involves stealing and threat

Patterns and Trends Burglary – 2 million Larceny-Theft – 6.8 million, 60% of property crimes Motor Vehicle Theft – 1.2 million, downward trend Arson

Who are the Criminals? Age – late teens (15-24), 45% of all crime Gender – men disproportionately arrested for crimes Social Class – low-income neighborhoods and crime rates Race and Ethnicity – disproportionate to the total population. Blacks 7x more likely than whites to be arrested.

Other Issues in Crime Juvenile Delinquency – the violation of the law by young people, usually under the age of 18 Hate Crimes – criminal offense motivated by bias against race, gender, religion, disability, etc. White-Collar Crime – illegal activities by people of high social positions during regular business activities Corporate Crime – illegal act committed by a corporation Organized Crime – business operation that supplies illegal goods and services Victimless Crime – offenses that directly harm no one but the person who commits them

Criminal Justice System Criminal justice system – society’s use of due process, police, courts, and punishment to enforce the law –Due process –Police How serious is the crime? What does the victim want? Is the suspect cooperative? Does the suspect have a record? Are bystanders watching? Race?… –Courts Plea bargaining – negotiation in which the state reduces a defendant’s charge in exchange for a guilty plea

Punishment Retribution Deterrence Rehabilitation Societal Protection Criminal recidivism – later offenses by people previously convicted of crimes

Structural-Functional Theories Durkheim’s functions of crime –Crime affirms norms and values –Crime clarifies spectrum of right and wrong –Crime creates collective response and unity –Crime encourages social change

Merton’s Strain Theory Mode Conformity Deviant Innovation Ritualism Retreatism Rebellion Means Goal /+

Opportunity Structure Relative Opportunity structure – whether one becomes a criminal or not depends on lack of legitimate opportunity and the presence of illegitimate opportunity.

Control Theory Travis Hirschi’s control theory states that strong social ties discourages crime 1.Attachment to other people 2.Commitment to conformity 3.Involvement in conventional activities 4.A belief in cultural norms and values

Differential Association Theory Deviance and criminal behavior is learned in social groups.

Labeling Theory Crime and deviance result not so much from what people do as from how others respond to those actions

Class and Crime Marx viewed legal system as a way for capitalists to protect their wealth. People with less social power are at greater risk of criminal involvement.

Culture of Violence Culture of violence – level of violence in society depends on cultural values. Violence reflects how culture might encourage or discourage behaviors. –Elijah Anderson Code of the Street - low- income communities develop a “street culture” that teaches young people to be tough. Violence can be a strategy to avoid becoming a victim.

Learning Violence Social learning theory – people learn as children whether or not to become violent. Mass media and violence – radio, television, movies, Internet desensitizing us to all violence Family Peer groups