Criminology: Deviance Amplification and Police Discretion

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Questions and Answers

What term is used to describe the phenomenon where police actions influence the reporting and recording of crime, thereby affecting crime rates?

Deviance amplification (correct)

Crime reporting bias

Crime rate manipulation

Police discretion

Which of the following is a reason why police stations may have different crime rates despite using the same CAS system?

Some police stations have more resources than others

Crime rates are inherently random and cannot be influenced

Different police stations have different crime rates due to their locations

Different police stations employ different strategies to process reporting and recording of crime (correct)

What is an example of a planned campaign that can lead to an increase in crime rates over a certain period?

A community outreach program

A new community policing initiative

A crime prevention seminar

A crackdown on drinking and driving over festive periods (correct)

What is the term used to describe the shift towards formalisation and managerial accountability in the Criminal Justice System?

Commercialization of justice Signup and view all the answers

How many registered security businesses are there in the private security sector in South Africa?

Over 9000 Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate number of active registered members in the SAPS?

190,000 Signup and view all the answers

What is the implication of the private security sector's budget exceeding that of the SAPS?

The government has lost control over crime and security provision Signup and view all the answers

Why do citizens feel the need to incur extra financial liability to ensure their safety?

Because the government has lost control over crime and security provision Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of the 'defining deviance down' strategy?

To artificially lower the reported crime rate Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a way to 'define deviance down'?

Increasing police presence in high-crime areas Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of redefining success in crime control agencies?

Decreased accountability in police agencies Signup and view all the answers

What is the outcome of combining serious and socially repugnant crimes in crime statistics?

Reported crime rate increases Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of 'defining deviance down' on the crime rate?

Reported decrease in crime rate Signup and view all the answers

Why do police agencies claim responsibility for detecting serious offenders?

To divert attention from their failure to rehabilitate offenders Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of correctional officials?

Detaining convicted criminals Signup and view all the answers

What is the outcome of redefining success in crime control agencies?

Decreased attention to critical areas Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of state agencies when adapting to crime control?

Achieving goals that fall within their control Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of prioritizing the consequences of a crime over its causes?

Development of policies that advocate for the rights of crime victims Signup and view all the answers

What is the underlying assumption of the 'responsibilisation' strategy?

The government is inadequate in preventing and controlling crime Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of the community's increasing involvement in crime control?

The community is responsibilized to manage their own safety Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of sector policing and community corrections?

To increase community involvement in crime control Signup and view all the answers

What is the underlying assumption of commercialization of justice?

The private security industry can play a key role in crime control Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of the development of community crime prevention programs?

Increased partnership between state agencies, the private security industry, and the community Signup and view all the answers

What is the implication of society treating crime as a normal?

The community is responsibilized to manage their own safety Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Deviance Amplification

Deviance Amplification: a phenomenon where crime rates increase as a result of increased policing and law enforcement efforts.

Influence of SAPS Personnel

Police discretion affects reporting and recording of crime, leading to differences in crime rates between police stations.
Police campaigns and strategies, such as crackdowns on specific crimes, can influence officially recorded crime rates.
Changes in policing approaches, such as sector policing, can also impact crime rates.

Adaptations to Regain Control over Crime

Commercialization of Justice

Private security companies in South Africa have a budget exceeding that of the SAPS.
Approximately 9000 registered security businesses offer services, including guarding and private investigation.
Privatization of crime control indicates a loss of state control over crime, leading citizens to incur extra costs for safety.

Concentrating on Consequences

Focus is redirected to consequences of crime rather than addressing causes.
Emphasis is on victim support, social and financial costs, and public concern over crime.

Redefining and Relocating

Community involvement in crime control increases through strategies like sector policing and community corrections.
Partnership between state agencies, private security, and the community is necessary to share responsibility for crime control.

Defining Deviance Down

Governments manipulate statistics to artificially lower crime rates.
Crimes are reclassified as less serious or filtered out of records.

Rethinking Success

State agencies redefine success by internal expectations, altering aims, and lowering standards.
Police agencies focus on detecting serious offenders, overlooking opportunistic offenders.
Correctional officials focus on detention rather than rehabilitation.

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Description

This quiz explores the concept of deviance amplification and its relation to police discretion, reporting, and recording of crime. It covers the influence of SAPS personnel on crime rates and how different police stations process crime data.