CRIM 2 Theories of Crime Causation Quiz and Flashcards

Study Notes

Criminology Definition

Criminology is the entire body of knowledge regarding crime as a social phenomenon, including the process of making laws, breaking laws, and society's reaction to breaking laws.

Criminologist

A criminologist is a person who is a graduate of the Degree of Criminology, has passed the examination for criminologists, and is registered as such by the Board of Examiners of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

Origin of the Word "Criminology"

The term criminology comes from the Latin word "crimen" meaning crime and the Greek word "logas" meaning "to study".
The term criminology was first coined by Rafael Garofalo in 1885, and later used in French as "criminologie" by Paul Topinard in 1889.

Theory

A theory is a set of statements devised to explain behavior, events, or phenomena, especially one that has been repeatedly tested and widely accepted.
A theory is a system of ideas arranged in a rational order that produces general principles to increase understanding and explanation.

Crime

Crime refers to an act committed or omitted in violation of public law.
It also refers to an act committed or omitted in violation of a public law forbidding or commanding it.

Act of Commission and Act of Omission

An act of commission is when the act performed is in violation of a law forbidding it.
An act of omission is when the person failed to perform an act that is commanded by law.

Criminal

In the legal sense, a criminal is any person who has been found to have committed a wrongful act in the course of the standard judicial process.
In the criminological sense, a person is already considered a criminal the moment they commit a crime.

Theories of Crime Problems

Crime Opportunity Theory

Crime opportunity theory is a crime that is committed without planning when the perpetrator sees the chance to commit the act at that moment and seizes it.
The occurrence of a crime depends on two things: the presence of at least one motivated offender and the conditions of the environment in which that offender is situated.

Routine Activity Theory

Routine activity theory was proposed by Marcus Felson and Lawrence E. Cohen.
The theory focuses on how variations in lifestyle or routine activities affect the opportunities for crime.
The three main components of this theory emphasize an offender, a suitable target, and the lack of a capable guardian.

Description

Test your knowledge on criminology theories, including Edwin H. Sutherland's definition of criminology as the study of crime as a social phenomenon. Explore concepts related to crime, criminals, and society's response to law-breaking.