Defining Crime: Understanding its Parameters

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Questions and Answers

According to Tappan's definition, what is a crucial element in defining a crime?

The act must be detected by the authorities

The act must be intentional (correct)

The act must be punished by the state

The act must be committed with a defence or excuse

What is the main limitation of Sutherland and Cressey's definition of crime?

It only considers intentional acts

It does not account for acts not prohibited by law (correct)

It is too broadly defined

It is only applicable to felonies

What is the fundamental idea behind the concept of crime being socially constructed?

Crime is brought into existence by society (correct)

Crime is inherent in human nature

Crime is a natural part of human society

Crime is defined by moral norms

What is an example of how higher authorities can define what is illegal?

Banning gang patches in public places Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation of considering only acts that have been adjudicated by courts as criminal?

It ignores criminal acts not detected by the state Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the statement 'crime is brought into existence by society defining certain behaviour as illegal'?

It highlights the importance of societal definitions in creating crime Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of how society collectively chooses what is criminal?

Cannabis laws being voted for Signup and view all the answers

What is the implication of considering crime as socially constructed?

Crime is relative and varies across societies Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation of using incarceration rates to measure crime?

It does not account for criminals who have not been caught Signup and view all the answers

What are official crime statistics used for?

To provide news headlines and inform political rhetoric Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation of using official crime statistics?

They do not account for unreported crime Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a type of crime in New Zealand?

Assault Signup and view all the answers

What is the incarceration rate in Aotearoa per 100,000 people?

158 people in prison Signup and view all the answers

What is a purpose of using crime rates?

To understand societal morality Signup and view all the answers

What is a source of crime statistics?

Ministry of Justice Signup and view all the answers

What do official crime statistics measure?

The number of crimes reported and recorded by the police Signup and view all the answers

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

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 legal definition, and the limitations of considering only court-adjudicated individuals as criminals. Discuss unintentional acts, undetected crimes, and the label of criminality beyond punishment.