Criminology Overview Quiz

The mechanisms and resources used by society to ensure people behave according to norms.

The sense of belonging and shared identity that unites people in a society.

A type of solidarity based on shared beliefs, values, and traditions found in simpler societies.

A type of solidarity based on interdependence and specialization of roles in modern societies.

The unspoken rules and expectations that govern behaviour in a school setting, often influencing learning beyond the curriculum.

A measure that considers the seriousness of crimes by analyzing average sentences.

A statistic used to assess the overall amount of crime in a society.

The tendency of people to overestimate the prevalence of violent crimes in society.

A way of studying crime that combines knowledge and perspectives from different academic disciplines, recognizing that crime is a complex issue with multifaceted causes and consequences.

A way of studying crime that draws on knowledge from various disciplines but focuses on specific fields, without necessarily integrating them into a comprehensive view.

The process of turning behaviors or groups into criminal categories, even if they might not have been considered criminal before.

Acts considered wrong based on universally held moral principles, such as murder or rape.

Acts considered wrong because they are prohibited by law, even if they might not be inherently immoral, such as jaywalking or parking violations.

The customs and norms that guide everyday social interactions, like greeting a stranger or holding a door open.

Informal codes related to right and wrong, often based on perceptions of morality and ethics.

All the mechanisms and resources used by society to ensure that its members behave in a socially acceptable way.

Official data, collected by government agencies, used for measuring crime trends, includes Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) by Canadian police agencies and data from courts and correctional facilities.

Unofficial data, collected through surveys, academic studies, and NGOs, provides perspective on crime unreported to the police, offering a broader view of crime trends.

UCR data provides standardized reporting practices, allowing for comparisons over time and tracking crime trends; however, missing or unfounded cases, sensitivity to police practices, and changes in law can skew the data.

Unofficial data complements official data by including unreported crimes, providing a more accurate view of crime trends, and offering detailed information on victims and offenders, but it also has limitations in sampling and potential over/under-reporting.

Law's function is a response to societal needs, as suggested by Hoebel.

Law's function is to organize happiness within society, as suggested by Ward.

Law's function is to express societal values and beliefs, even if not directly controlling behavior, as suggested by Sunstein.

Legitimacy of law hinges on the public's belief in it, as stated by Max Weber, enabling a singular rule-making authority, recognizable to the public, with clear rules for followers.

A situation where people lose faith in the legitimacy of authority and believe they can make change themselves.

The objectives of punishment in Canada aim to prevent crime, protect society, and rehabilitate offenders.

The idea that punishment should be proportionate to the seriousness of the crime committed. Focuses on the certainty of punishment as the main deterrent.

The theory that offenders make rational decisions before committing crimes, weighing potential benefits and costs.

A theory suggesting that crime occurs when three elements converge: motivated offender, suitable target, and absence of capable guardianship.

A strategy that aims to prevent crime by modifying the physical and social environment to reduce criminal opportunities.

A system of mass incarceration in the United States that perpetuates racial inequality and maintains a hierarchy based on race.

The use of law to regulate social interactions and relationships, sometimes creating or reinforcing social hierarchies.