1. Types of Crime and Victiminzation

2. Crimes can be classified in several ways...
Severity
Felonies and misdemeanors
2. mala in se & mala prohibita
mala in se: crimes that everyone considers wrong
mala prohibita: actions that are illegal because of laws

3. 3. Statistic Classifications
Violent Crimes: crimes against people
Murder
Manslaughter
assault
rape
robbery
kidnapping

4. Property Crimes: crimes against property
larceny
burglary
embezzlement
arson
blackmail
fraud
forgery/counterfeiting

5. Public Order Offenses: crimes that threaten the peace
public drunkenness
driving while intoxicated
disorderly conduct

6. Victimization Crime statistics are very unreliable
"dark figure of crime": fact that a lot of crimes go unreported to the police
Any number of "crimes committed" is an index, or estimate, of crime rates in an area
We will never know the true number of crimes!!!

7. Why would people not report crimes to the police?
1. Crime not that serious
2. Do not want to embarrass the offender
3. Do not want the publicity
4. May have a part in the crime
5. Want to avoid the inconvenience
6. Scared of the offender
7. Dislike the police
8. Feel the police will not be able to do anything

8. Fear of Victimization
About 80% of Americans fear being a victim of a crime
40% fear sexual assault
40% burglaries not at home, 25% at home
30% attacked in car
30% mugged
25% assault
20% murdered

9. Fear of violent crime is greater at night
Most Americans feel safe at home, but do not feel safe walking alone at night near home

10. Who Fears Crime Females more than males Minorities
Ppl. over 50 most fearful
Jews more fearful than other religious gps
Ppl. living in urban areas
Ppl. living in the South and West
Ppl. with less education
Democrats more fearful than Republicans
Fear of crime goes down as income goes up.

11. Most of these generalizations deals with specific crimes in these groups, and does not mean they will be a victim
Why would specific people fear being a victim of crime?

15. Who is Most Likely to be a Victim of Crime?
Young People
Ppl are twice as likely to be victim of a crime than older people.
Single People
Are 4 times more likely to be a victim than a married person
Poorer People
Less than $7,500/year 2.5 times more likely

16. African Americans and Latin Americans
Rate of violent crimes (per 1,000 people)
African Americans: 31.2
Latin Americans: 29.5
Whites: 24.5
City Dwellers
Urban: 33.2
Suburban: 22.3
Rural: 21.1

17. Men
Rate of violent crimes (per 1,000 people)
Men: 27.3
Women: 23
Living in the West
West: 32.3
Midwest: 24.4
South: 23.8
Northeast: 20.2

18. Applying Positivist Theories
Read the back ground on Timothy McVeigh, one of the men responsible for the Oklahoma City bombing
In a short essay (paragraph) write down which positivist theory you think best describes why McVeigh committed the Oklahoma bombing.

19. Critical Theories to Crime
Labeling Theory
1. Once someone commits a crime, they are "labeled" as a criminal
2. They are ignored and shunned by society b/c of this label
3. With no other options, they commit more crimes

20. Conflict Theory
Society is divided between competing groups; rich vs. poor, men vs. women, etc.
One group is dominant over the other
The dominant group uses the CJ system to control and keep down the weaker group.

21. Radical Theory Comes from Karl Marx and his theories on economics
Crime is a natural result of the competition caused by capitalism between rich and poor.
As incomes become more equal, crime will go down.

22. Left Realism
It is not just the powerful that commit crimes against working class people
Working class people commit crimes against themselves as well.
Peacemaking
"Wars" on crime are ineffective
To reduce crime, human suffering needs to be reduced

23. Feminist Theory
Questions the validity of other theories towards women.
Brings more attention to the victimization of women
Postmodernism
There is no one "Law"; criminal law can be changed to mean anything.
Seeks to change the CJ system to be more adaptable