Understanding Criminology: Key Concepts

• Criminology is the scientific study of crime, criminal behavior, and the criminal justice system.
• Common Law is based on judicial decisions and precedent rather than written statutes.
• The Uniform Crime Report (UCR) is an official crime data collection program managed by the FBI, collecting crime reports from police agencies.
• Target Antagonism occurs when a victim is attacked because traits provoke the offender, like race, gender, or sexual orientation.
• Interdisciplinary study combines multiple academic areas, like sociology, psychology, and law, to study crime.
• Statutory Law includes laws that are written and enacted by legislatures.
• The National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) collects data on unreported crimes through victim interviews.
• A Victim Advocate is a professional who supports victims by helping them navigate the legal system and access resources.
• Classical Criminology suggests people commit crimes based on free will and rational decision-making.
• A Felony is a serious crime punishable by more than one year in prison.
• Self-Report Studies are surveys where individuals report their own criminal behavior or victimization.
• Victim Impact Statements are given by the victim in court explaining how the crime affected them.
• Positivist Criminology argues crime is influenced by external factors like biology, psychology, and environment.
• A Misdemeanor is a minor crime punishable by less than one year in jail.
• A Chronic Offender repeatedly commits crimes and has a long history of offenses.
• The Victim-Offender Reconciliation Program (VORP) is a restorative justice program for victims and offenders to discuss the impact of the crime.
• Sociological Criminology studies crime from a social perspective, looking at factors like class, race, or group behavior.
• Instrumental Crimes are committed for financial or personal gain, like robbery or fraud.
• Target Gratifiability occurs when victims are chosen because they have something the offender wants (e.g., expensive jewelry, a nice car).
• Discretion is the ability of law enforcement and judicial officials to make decisions based on personal judgment.
• Deviance is behavior that violates social norms but isn't always criminal.
• Expressive Crimes are committed due to emotions like anger or jealousy, rather than material gain.
• Target Vulnerability occurs when a victim is chosen because they are weak or unable to defend themselves (e.g., elderly people, children).
• The Criminal Justice System is the network of law enforcement, courts, and corrections that manages crime and punishment.

Uniform Crime Report (UCR)

• Benefits: Provides nationwide crime data from police reports.
• Covers serious crimes like homicide and robbery and helps track crime trends over time.
• Problems: Only includes reported crimes (many are unreported).
• It can be affected by police discretion (what is counted as a crime) and underreports crimes like domestic violence.

National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)

• Benefits: Captures unreported crimes through victim interviews.
• It provides more accurate data on crimes, like sexual assault and theft, and helps understand why people don't report crimes.
• Problems: Data is based on victim memory, which can be inaccurate.
• The survey doesn't include crimes against businesses or children under 12, and people might not always tell the truth.

Social Goals of Contemporary Law

• Enforces social control by making sure people follow the rules.
• Discourages revenge, preventing personal retaliation and expressing morality, reflecting society's beliefs about right and wrong.
• Deters criminal behavior by making people afraid to commit crimes.
• Punishes wrongdoing by holding offenders accountable
• Maintains social order by keeping society stable.
• Provides restoration, helping victims recover from crime.
• These laws help prevent crime by setting clear consequences, but they don't stop all crime, as people still break laws due to personal or social factors.

Relationship Between Crime & Victimization (Gender, Race & Social Class)

• Men commit more crimes, especially violent ones.
• Women are more likely to be victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
• Crime rates vary by racial groups, often influenced by socioeconomic factors.
• Minority groups are more likely to be victims of violent crimes.
• Lower-income areas often experience higher crime rates.
• Wealthier individuals may commit more white-collar crimes (fraud, embezzlement).
• Young people (teens & early 20s) commit more crimes.
• Elderly individuals are less likely to commit crimes but can be easy targets for fraud.

Victim Precipitation Theory

• Idea: Victims sometimes contribute to their victimization (e.g., provoking an attacker).
• Ex: A person starts a fight at a bar and gets assaulted.

Lifestyle Theory

• Idea: A person's daily routine affects their risk of being a victim.
• Ex: Someone who frequently goes out late at night in unsafe areas is at higher risk.

Routine Activities Theory

• Idea: Crime happens when three things are present: a motivated offender, a suitable target, and a lack of guardianship (e.g., no police, no security cameras)
• Ex: A thief sees an unlocked car with valuables inside and no one around.

Explore criminology, from the study of crime and the criminal justice system to legal foundations like Common Law and Statutory Law. Understand data collection methods such as the UCR and NCVS. Learn about victim support through Victim Advocates and theories like Classical Criminology.