Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is considered a crime according to Tappan's 1947 definition?
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?
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?
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?
What is an example of how society collectively chooses what is criminal?
Who defines what is criminal according to the text?
Who defines what is criminal according to the text?
What is the main difference between Tappan's and Sutherland and Cressey's definitions of crime?
What is the main difference between Tappan's and Sutherland and Cressey's definitions of crime?
What is an example of how higher-ups can define what is illegal?
What is an example of how higher-ups can define what is illegal?
What is the main idea behind the social constructivist approach to understanding crime?
What is the main idea behind the social constructivist approach to understanding crime?
What is the primary source of official information about crime in New Zealand?
What is the primary source of official information about crime in New Zealand?
What is a limitation of using incarceration rates to measure crime?
What is a limitation of using incarceration rates to measure crime?
What do official crime statistics measure?
What do official crime statistics measure?
Why do crime rates fluctuate?
Why do crime rates fluctuate?
What is the approximate incarceration rate in New Zealand?
What is the approximate incarceration rate in New Zealand?
What is one purpose of crime statistics?
What is one purpose of crime statistics?
What type of crime is commonly reported in New Zealand?
What type of crime is commonly reported in New Zealand?
Why do crime statistics often make the news headlines?
Why do crime statistics often make the news headlines?
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
Social Construction of Crime
- 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.
