Global crimes 3

Crime as a Social Construction

• Crime is not fixed; it changes across time and place.
• Crime is a social construct, not a natural phenomenon.
• Laws define crime, and criminalization is a complex process.
• Some behaviors cause harm but aren't defined as crimes by law.

Disasters and Crime?

• The presentation raises questions about whether certain events, like disasters, are best understood as crimes, or something else.
• The examples presented illustrate different perspectives on harm.

Trafigura's Probo Koala

• This case, discussed in a video, highlights issues and actions taken by corporations as a potential harm that aren't always seen as criminal.

Hurricane Katrina

• The presentation uses Hurricane Katrina as an example to show harm can arise without illegal actions.

Harm and Crime

• Not all crimes produce harm, pollution can be a result of legal activity.
• Legal behaviors can result in harm too.
• Some harms aren't crimes.

Criticisms of Crime Concept

• Crime lacks inherent meaning; the way we see and define crime is often flawed or limited.
• The concept of crime sometimes ignores more significant issues and harms.
• Criminology often fails to understand the full scope of crime.

Defining Crime Beyond the Legal Framework

• Modern legal definitions of crime don't fully cover all aspects of harm.
• Harms caused by the criminal justice system should also be considered.
• Invisible crimes, and crimes not yet understood or prosecuted should be included in understanding crime.

Changing the Category of Harm

• There is difficulty analyzing harm in a criminal context.
• 'Social Harm' and 'Zemiology' are alternative approaches to traditional crime definitions.
• These approaches aim to broaden traditional criminology by understanding harm holistically.