1. CRIMINOLOGY
UNIT 1: LAW AND CRIME
TWO TYPES OF LAW:

2. Civil Law: I’m going to SUE YOU
Civil Law: I’m going to SUE YOU!! Essential Question: What were you supposed to do?
Why do people sue each other?
When can you sue someone?
Do people file too many lawsuits?
What is the difference between Civil Law and Criminal Law?

3. Civil Law – “I’m going to sue you!!”
Based on _____________ between those people (2 types):
EXPRESSED
IMPLIED
Results if you win:
1. INJUNCTION:
2. MONETARY:
LOWER BURDEN OF PROOF:
Government provides the ___________________________; They have no other interest in the case
NO ____________________________________________________

4. Major issue in Civil Law:
Do people sue for frivolous (poor) reasons and clog up the courts?
If we limit people’s ability to sue, do we deny them their right to just compensation
for injury and loss?

5. TORT REFORM: Who benefits?
Two major competing interests:
LAWYERS: generally opposed to TORT reform. Why?
INSURANCE COMPANIES: support TORT reform. Why?

6. Unit 1: Crime and Law Crime:
How do we define what actions are CRIMINAL?
Society (group) elects________________
Lawmakers create laws about ___________
Government appoints agents of________________
Citizens are _______________________ for breaking LAWS by ____________ courts.

7. GOVERNMENT vs. ___________________
Criminal Law
Criminal law –
GOVERNMENT vs. ___________________
Two levels of Criminal Law:
Victims of crime are
The governments laws ___________________ and they are ____________ the case. The VICTIM is just a_____________.

8. Crime and Law Crime: Accessory before the Fact:
Helping another plan or cover up a crime is also punishable:
Accessory before the Fact:
Accessory after the Fact:

9. Elements of a Crime: What makes something a crime?
1. Actus Reus =
2. Mens rea =
some important exceptions:

10. Can you be guilty and innocent at the same time?
Entrapment:
Police are not allowed to

11. Measuring Crime Uniform Crime Report (UCR): Limited Multiple
Most Common Tool:
Uniform Crime Report (UCR):
*First
*Annual statistical analysis .
*Compiled by the
Problems with UCR:
Limited
Multiple

12. Problems with the UCR:
for example:
RECENT DEVELOPMENT: Definition of RAPE to change to include
Signifcance: .
Which crime do you think is reported most accurately?

13. New Crime Measures
National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS) “New UCR”
National Crimes Victims Survey (NCVS)
Compiled by the Census Bureau

14. STATE AND FEDERAL LAW STATE: FEDERAL: Federal Law is Most criminals
All US citizens are subject to two levels of laws:
STATE:
FEDERAL:
Federal Law is
Most criminals

15. NEW JERSEY STATE LAW: Non-Indictable offenses
NJ does not classify crimes as ___________ (MORE than 1 year in jail) and _____________________ (LESS than 1 year in jail)
INSTEAD, NJ classifies crimes as:
____________________: Petty Disorderly Persons or Disorderly persons offenses (________________________________________)
2. ________________: Fourth through First degree crimes (___________________________________)

16. NJ: NJ LAW: PETTY DISORDERLY PERSONS OFFENSES (PDP’s)
__________________________ criminal charge
Heard in _________________________
Max sentence: ___________
: Examples:
NJ LAW: DISORDERLY PERSONS OFFENSES (DP’s)
__________severe criminal charge
Heard in ______________________________
Max sentence _____________ in COUNTY JAIL
Examples:

17. Indictable offenses in NJ
 New Jersey Degrees of crime
1) First degree;
MOST SERIOUS
2) Second degree;
3) Third degree
Prison: between 3 and 5 years
4) Fourth degree = LEAST SERIOUS

18. New Jersey gets tough and SMART:
Getting Tough on Crime: States wanted to crack down on violent criminals
California and other states: __________________ _____________Laws
Most states with 3 Strikes: __________________
___________
California:_________________________________
_______________
California PRISON POPULATION _______________!
New Jersey gets tough and SMART:
NERA:

19. FEDERAL CRIME: What makes something a FEDERAL OFFENSE?
Certain Crimes are deemed FEDERAL OFFENSES
What makes something a FEDERAL OFFENSE?
1. Occurs on _________________ or related to _____________________________

20. 2. Severe Crimes formally sanctioned by the US Congress:
FEDERAL CRIMES
2. Severe Crimes formally sanctioned by the US Congress: *

21. FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation: Premier federal law enforcement agency
USSS: United States Secret Service: Protection and Financial security (counterfeiting and credit fraud)
US Marshal Service
Captures Federal fugitives
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
United States Coast Guard (USCG)
United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
United States Border Patrol (USBP)
United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS)
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

22. Sentencing for Crime . Other factors:
Some crimes have ______________sentences (NJ 85% served for 1st and 2nd Degree)
The ___________________ has been abolished in New Jersey

23. WHY???????? CRIME: WHERE DID IT GO?
Crime in the US reached a peak during the
Experts predicted that crime would continue to increase
Around 1992
WHY????????

24. THEORIES FOR CRIME DROP:
1. Stronger Economy: less poor = less crime
2. Changing population: Baby Boomers getting older; huge population segment no longer criminally active
3. Better Policing Strategies: Computer analysis of crime, Nuisance crime initiative, etc.
4. Gun Control Laws: stricter gun laws = less crime
5. Allowing concealed weapons: Sounds logical , no evidence of impact
6. Capital Punishment: more executions scared potential criminals
WHEN TESTED THESE THEORIES WERE FOUND INCONCLUSIVE

25. FREAKONOMICS?
Economist Stephen Levitt investigated the data and reached different conclusions. According to Levitt’s research crime plummeted because: 1. 2.

27. 3. The Receding ___________Epidemic: When the _______ epidemic ended; crime decreased
4. Levitt’s most controversial theory ____________________is a factor in the drop in crime:
1973 _________ became legal.
Levitt theorized that unwanted babies, who____________________________________, were never born.
18 years later,___________________________, ________________________they weren’t there.
Political and Social _____________________