Criminology Theories and Crime Types

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Questions and Answers

What does Routine Activity Theory emphasize as necessary for a crime to occur?

Availability of self-report mechanisms

Support of community institutions

Strong social bonds

Presence of a motivated offender (correct)

According to Social Control Theory, crime is primarily linked to what factor?

Cultural values discrepancy

Exposure to criminal behaviors

Lack of economic resources

Weak bonds to societal institutions (correct)

What aspect does Differential Association Theory focus on regarding criminal behavior?

Learning through interaction with others (correct)

Response to societal expectations

Economic pressures faced by individuals

Reinforcement from societal institutions

Strain Theory relates crime to which of the following concepts?

Gap between societal goals and means Signup and view all the answers

Labeling Theory implies that being labeled as deviant results in what outcome?

Reinforcement of further deviance Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary strength of Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR)?

Reliable for trends in violent and property crimes Signup and view all the answers

Which weakness is associated with self-report surveys?

Subject to exaggeration or memory errors Signup and view all the answers

What limitation do victimization surveys face?

Subject to memory recall and subjectivity Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary factor that differentiates robbery from other theft-related crimes?

The threat or use of violence Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following crimes falls under the category of violent crime?

Homicide Signup and view all the answers

What is the distinguishing characteristic of first-degree murder?

It involves a planned and deliberate act Signup and view all the answers

Which level of assault involves the use of a weapon or causing bodily harm?

Level 2 Signup and view all the answers

What common factor is observed in victims of sexual assault?

Victims often know their offenders Signup and view all the answers

Which motivation is NOT typically associated with homicide cases?

Accidental injury Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary psychological issue associated with infanticide?

Depression and mental health issues Signup and view all the answers

In the context of crime theory, which theory emphasizes the importance of community control to prevent crime?

Control theory Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best describes white-collar crime?

It is primarily motivated by financial or organizational gain. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key factor contributing to the prevalence of crime among youth aged 15-25?

Engagement in high-risk activities with fewer guardians present. Signup and view all the answers

How does the media typically represent juvenile crime compared to adult crime?

Adult crime is sensationalized more than juvenile crime. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following explanations is commonly linked to the gender disparity in crime rates?

Stricter informal controls on women limit their opportunities for deviance. Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon describes the underreporting of corporate and white-collar crimes?

The complexity and lack of identifiable victims. Signup and view all the answers

What statistical trend is observed regarding the representation of minority groups in the criminal justice system?

They are overrepresented due to systemic inequalities. Signup and view all the answers

The phrase 'CSI effect' refers to which of the following?

The way media influences public perception of forensic science. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of conventional (street) crime?

It involves direct harm or theft to individuals. Signup and view all the answers

What best defines criminal harassment?

Repeated, unwanted attention that causes fear for safety. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes mischief in the context of property crimes?

Acts that destroy, damage, or interfere with property. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes boosters from snitches in the context of shoplifting?

Boosters are professionals stealing for resale, while snitches are amateurs stealing for personal use. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common motivation for motor vehicle theft by youth?

Joyriding and thrill-seeking. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of fraud involves using someone’s identity to commit crimes?

Identity theft. Signup and view all the answers

Which theory suggests that crime occurs when a motivated offender encounters a suitable target without capable guardianship?

Routine Activities Theory. Signup and view all the answers

What does labeling theory primarily address regarding criminal behavior?

The stigmatization and limited opportunities that follow a criminal label. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect characterizes violent crimes compared to property crimes?

They tend to involve known offenders driven by passion or disputes. Signup and view all the answers

What typology involves fraudulent activities such as insider trading?

Exploitation Signup and view all the answers

Which external factor is related to unethical practices in a competitive market?

Competition Signup and view all the answers

Which example represents a Professional (Occupational) violation?

Embezzlement Signup and view all the answers

What is a key element of the Broken Windows Theory?

Address minor disorders to prevent serious crime Signup and view all the answers

What concept explains the learning of criminal behavior in workplace culture?

Differential Association Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a theoretical explanation associated with WCC?

Denial of Responsibility Signup and view all the answers

What is described as a corporate violation where the victim is the public?

Price fixing Signup and view all the answers

Which term refers to the concept of loopholes in business operations leading to unethical behavior?

Opportunity Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant factor contributing to declining rates of traditional theft?

Improvements in security measures Signup and view all the answers

Which crime is prevalent in the eastern provinces of Canada?

Organized motor vehicle theft Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of community policing?

To build trust which improves reporting and deterrence Signup and view all the answers

The Objectivist view on morality suggests that laws are primarily focused on what aspect?

Reflecting shared beliefs to maintain order Signup and view all the answers

According to the Harm Principle proposed by John Stuart Mill, legal sanctions should apply to which types of actions?

Only actions causing actual harm to others Signup and view all the answers

What is the legal status of prostitution in Canada?

Selling sexual services is legal, but purchasing related activities are illegal Signup and view all the answers

What factor influenced the Opium Act of 1908 in Canada?

Racial and economic tensions Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes victimless crimes?

They are crimes that violate specific laws without a direct victim Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Social problems are constructed through activities and claims-making, using rhetorical devices to persuade audiences.

Public Arenas Model

Competition among public arenas (media outlets, nonprofits) for attention.
Constrained by space, time, and budget limitations.

12 News Values

Criteria for crime stories, including drama, violence, proximity, cultural resonance, and celebrity involvement.

The CSI Effect

Unrealistic public expectations of forensic science.
Affects legal practices and increases demands for evidence.

Sacco's Analysis

Media transforms private problems into public issues, focusing on dramatic or atypical crimes.
News often inaccurately portrays crime by overrepresenting violent crime, and mischaracterizing demographics.
Police narratives dominate, marginalizing alternative perspectives.

Greer's Victim Hierarchies

Media creates "ideal victims" (women, children, elderly) who evoke sympathy.
Excludes victims based on race, gender, or sexual orientation, perpetuating biases.

Juvenile vs. Adult Crime

Juvenile crime underreported unless sensational or violent.
Adult crime (murder) often prioritized.
Media framing reinforces myths like "stranger danger" despite differing real risks.

Violence in Film

Ritualistic: Violence as spectacle (horror films).
Symbolic: Reflects societal meaning ("Crash").
Hyper-real: Senseless, extreme violence ("Tarantino" films).
Impacts public perception, normalizing aggressive imagery.

Cultural Distortion

As crime rates decline, media emphasis on violence increases.
Stories are tailored to specific cultural and political narratives (e.g., law-and-order).

Moral Panics

Media exaggerates events to define societal threats.
Focus on youth deviancy and vulnerable groups during periods of social change.
Authorities and media amplify deviancy to justify policy responses.

Conventional (Street) Crime

Definition: Crimes involving direct harm or theft (e.g. , assault, robbery, burglary).
Patterns: Often occurs in public places, perpetrated by various demographics including violent and property crime.

White-Collar Crime

Definition: Non-violent crimes committed for financial or organizational gain.
Patterns: Often committed by individuals or organizations, and is harder to detect.

Age

Crime most prevalent among youth (15-25).
Reasons include lack of life experience, self-control, and engaging in risky activities.
Exceptions: Older individuals dominate white-collar crime or organized crime

Gender

Men more likely to commit violent and property crimes.
Socialization, risk-taking, asserting dominance factors.
Opportunities influenced by gender roles.

Ethnicity/Race

Overrepresentation of minority groups in the criminal justice system.
Associated with systemic inequalities and discrimination.
Factors contributing to crime rates include cultural conflict, economic inequality, and systemic discrimination.

Routine Activity Theory

Crime occurs when a motivated offender encounters a suitable target.
Without adequate guardianship or protection.

Crime results from weak bonds to societal institutions (e.g., family, education, employment).

Differential Association Theory

Criminal behavior is learned through interactions with those who endorse deviance.

Strain Theory

Crime occurs when people experience a gap between goals and means to achieve them.

Labeling Theory

Being labeled as "deviant" or "criminal" reinforces further deviance.
Exclusion from society leads to more criminal activity.

Measuring Crime

Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR): Police-reported data, strengths in providing crime trends, weaknesses in missing unreported crimes, and factors based on police practices.
Self-Report Surveys: Individuals report crimes, strength in details of crimes, weakness in exaggeration and memory errors.
Victimization Surveys: Surveys about victim experiences, strengths in highlighting unreported crimes and reasons for not reporting, and weaknesses in memory recall and subjectivity.

Violent Crimes

Crimes against persons, involving harm or threat of harm (e.g., assault, robbery, homicide).
Includes specific crimes like assault (levels 1-3), sexual assault (levels 1-3), and homicide.

Property Crimes

Crimes related to theft or damage of property (e.g., shoplifting, vandalism).
Theft-related crimes like mischief (Section 430)

Homicide

Killing of a person by another individual.
Patterns include victims and offenders often knowing each other and stigma and trauma reducing reporting rates.

Robbery

Theft combined with violence or threat of violence.
Includes types like personal robberies and institutional robberies (banks, convenience stores).

Criminal Harassment

Repeated unwanted attention, causing fear for safety (e.g., stalking)

Fraud

Deceitful actions to acquire money, property, or valuables.
Includes types like identity theft and confidence schemes.

Break and Enter

Illegal entry into a premise to commit theft or other crimes.

Morality Crimes

Often called "victimless crimes", violations of social order by violating cultural values such as gambling, prostitution, and drug use.
Objectivist view says laws reflect shared beliefs; subjectivist view says that morality and laws change over time. The harm principle means legal sanctions should only apply to actions that cause harm.

Organized Crime

Four levels of gangs (fluid, semi-organized, territorial, and highly structured).

Prostitution:

Prostitution involves sexual activity as an economic transaction.
Illegal selling of services (streetwalkers, brothels) is criminalized in Canada.

Drug Laws in Canada

Opium Act (1908) targeted illegal opium use.
Racial and economic factors influenced legislation.
Legislation expanded to include more substances.

Cybercrime

Use of technology for committing a variety of crimes.
Examples of cybercrime include computer crimes (computer as object and as tool), and offenses against computer system such as hacking, malware, and denial of service attacks.
Content-related offenses like child pornography and online harassment are also included in this categorization.

White-Collar Crime (WCC)

Illegal acts committed by respectable individuals in occupational settings.
Goals are for personal or organizational gain.
Examples of white-collar crime include price fixing and tax fraud.

Crime Patterns

Violent crime tends to involve known offenders.
Property crimes, including theft, can be opportunistic and often committed by youth from similar backgrounds.
Organized crime often involves multiple levels, hierarchies, and large scale activities.

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Description

This quiz covers key concepts from various criminological theories such as Routine Activity Theory, Social Control Theory, and Strain Theory. Additionally, you'll explore crime classifications, including violent crimes and the distinctions between different types of theft. Test your understanding of these essential criminology concepts.