Slide 1- NOTES quiz

Criminal Justice in Canada

• Indigenous practices like the potlatch were criminalized by the Canadian government, connected to capitalism, Christianity, and assimilation
• Crime and social reaction is a sociological approach studying how deviance is constructed, and who decides what is considered deviant.
• Deviance is not inherent in acts themselves but socially constructed through processes and perceptions.
• Deviance can be contextual and vary across time and location; for example, poverty or homosexuality were once considered crimes.
• Social control methods respond to perceived deviance, and often societal disapproval is more effective than formal punishment.
• Various kinds of actions (crimes) can have different levels of consensus surrounding them.
• Some behaviours are deviant but not criminal (e.g., jaywalking) and some crimes aren't necessarily considered deviant (e.g., certain conflict crimes).
• Individuals (moral entrepreneurs) can play a significant role in shaping the perception of deviance and influencing moral norms.

Media Portrayals of Crime

• Media is a significant source shaping public perception on crime and deviance.
• People's opinions about crime often stem from media portrayals.
• Media depictions contribute to moral panics around particular groups.
• Media attention influences public perceptions, sometimes creating or exaggerating problems or events.

Moral Panics

• Problems are often identified through the media.
• Police attention draws public attention to the issue.
• Media plays a critical role in shaping and amplifying moral panics.
• Media may lead to misrepresentations or misinterpretations of events, in turn influencing public perception.
• Examples of moral panics include the Momo challenge and satanic panic.
• underlying shifts in social norms or trends can trigger fears, and media attention exacerbates these anxieties, often about children, youth, specific groups, or new technologies.