Crime Definition Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is considered a crime according to Tappan's 1947 definition?

Any unintentional act that causes harm to others

Any act that is not detected by the state

Any act considered immoral by society

An intentional act in violation of the criminal law (correct)

What is the main argument against the idea that crime is an inherent characteristic of an act?

Crime is a social construct (correct)

Crime is only committed by certain individuals

Crime is only defined by the state

Crime is a natural part of human nature

Why is it incorrect to say that crime is a fixed or inherent characteristic of an act?

Because laws change over time (correct)

Because certain behaviors are not prohibited by law

Because some acts are considered criminal by society

Because crime is only defined by the state

What is an example of how society collectively chooses what is criminal?

The introduction of anti-smacking laws Signup and view all the answers

Who defines what is criminal according to the text?

Both society and higher-ups Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between Tappan's and Sutherland and Cressey's definitions of crime?

Tappan's definition emphasizes the role of the state, while Sutherland and Cressey's definition focuses on the creation of laws Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of how higher-ups can define what is illegal?

The government banning gang patches in public places Signup and view all the answers

What is the main idea behind the social constructivist approach to understanding crime?

Crime is socially created or structured Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary source of official information about crime in New Zealand?

Police crime statistics Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation of using incarceration rates to measure crime?

Many criminals are not caught or punished to the full extent of the law Signup and view all the answers

What do official crime statistics measure?

The number of crimes reported and recorded by the police Signup and view all the answers

Why do crime rates fluctuate?

Changes in the reporting of crime Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate incarceration rate in New Zealand?

158 people in prison per 100,000 Signup and view all the answers

What is one purpose of crime statistics?

To gauge the extent of the crime problem Signup and view all the answers

What type of crime is commonly reported in New Zealand?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

Why do crime statistics often make the news headlines?

When crime is increasing, but not when it is decreasing or staying the same Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Definition of Crime

Crime is an intentional act in violation of the criminal law, committed without defense or excuse, and penalized by the state as a felony or misdemeanor (Tappan, 1947)
Crime is not a crime unless it is prohibited by criminal law, which is defined by public authority and applies uniformly to all members of society (Sutherland and Cressey, 1970)
Crime is socially constructed, and there is no behavior or act that is inherently criminal

Limitations of the Definition

Unintentional acts may not be considered criminal
Criminal acts that are not detected and punished by the state may not be considered criminal
People who have served their sentence may still be considered criminals
Things considered criminal that are not prohibited by law may not be considered criminal

Crime is brought into existence by society defining certain behavior as illegal
Society identifies behavior as immoral or problematic and labels it as criminal
The higher-ups in society can define what is criminal, even if it is not a collective vote

Measuring Crime

Crime is a significant issue, often measured using legalistic definitions
Official crime statistics are used to gauge the extent of the problem
Sources of crime statistics include police, Department of Corrections, Ministry of Justice, Oranga Tamariki, and Department of Statistics
Incarceration rates in New Zealand: 158 people in prison per 100,000

Official Crime Statistics

Official crime statistics show details about crimes reported and recorded, including types of crimes, location, and time
They do not measure the number of criminals
They represent official levels of known crime, detected by, or reported to, the police

Crime Rates

Crime rates rely on official crime statistics produced by the police
Official crime statistics make the news headlines and feed political rhetoric
Changes in crime rates can be influenced by factors such as reporting and policing practices

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Description

Explore the concept of crime, its definition, and the various aspects that contribute to its complexity, including intentional and unintentional acts, detection, and punishment.