SOC 305 Exam 1 Study Guide PDF

SOC 305 Exam 1 Study Guide Fill-in-the-Blank Terms (with Definitions) ​ Criminology – The scientific study of crime, criminal behavior, and the criminal justice system. ​ Common Law – Laws based on judicial decisions and precedent rather than written statutes. ​ Uniform Crime Report...

SOC 305 Exam 1 Study Guide Fill-in-the-Blank Terms (with Definitions) ​ Criminology – The scientific study of crime, criminal behavior, and the criminal justice system. ​ Common Law – Laws based on judicial decisions and precedent rather than written statutes. ​ Uniform Crime Report (UCR) – An official crime data collection program managed by the FBI, collecting crime reports from police agencies. ​ Target Antagonism – When a victim is attacked due to traits that provoke the offender, like race, gender, or sexual orientation. ​ Interdisciplinary – A field that combines multiple academic areas, like sociology, psychology, and law, to study crime. ​ Statutory Law – Laws that are written and enacted by legislatures. ​ National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) – A survey collecting data on unreported crimes through victim interviews. ​ Victim Advocate – A professional who supports victims by helping them navigate the legal system and access resources. ​ Classical Criminology – A theory that suggests people commit crimes based on free will and rational decision-making. ​ Felony – A serious crime punishable by more than one year in prison. ​ Self-Report Studies – Surveys where individuals report their own criminal behavior or victimization. ​ Victim Impact Statement – A statement given by the victim in court explaining how the crime affected them. ​ Positivist Criminology – A theory that argues crime is influenced by external factors like biology, psychology, and environment. ​ Misdemeanor – A minor crime punishable by less than one year in jail. ​ Chronic Offender – A person who repeatedly commits crimes and has a long history of offenses. ​ Victim-Offender Reconciliation Program (VORP) – A restorative justice program where victims and offenders meet to discuss the impact of the crime. ​ Sociological Criminology – The study of crime from a social perspective, looking at factors like class, race, and group behavior. ​ Instrumental Crimes – Crimes committed for financial or personal gain, like robbery or fraud. ​ Target Gratifiability – When victims are chosen because they have something the offender wants (e.g., expensive jewelry, a nice car). ​ Discretion – The ability of law enforcement and judicial officials to make decisions based on personal judgment. ​ Deviance – Behavior that violates social norms but isn’t always criminal. ​ Expressive Crimes – Crimes committed due to emotions like anger or jealousy, rather than material gain.  ​ Target Vulnerability – When a victim is chosen because they are weak or unable to defend themselves (e.g., elderly people, children). ​ Criminal Justice System – The network of law enforcement, courts, and corrections that manage crime and punishment. Short Answer Topics 1. Benefits and Problems with Crime Data Sources Uniform Crime Report (UCR) ✅ Benefits: ​ Provides nationwide crime data from police reports. ​ Covers serious crimes (homicide, robbery, etc.). ​ Helps track crime trends over time. ❌ Problems: ​ Only includes reported crimes (many go unreported). ​ Can be affected by police discretion (what is counted as a crime). ​ Some crimes, like domestic violence, are underreported. National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) ✅ Benefits: ​ Captures unreported crimes through victim interviews. ​ Provides more accurate data on crimes like sexual assault and theft. ​ Helps understand why people don’t report crimes. ❌ Problems: ​ Based on victim memory, which can be inaccurate. ​ Doesn’t include crimes against businesses or children under 12. ​ People might not always tell the truth. 2. Social Goals of Contemporary Law (p.16 in text) ​ Enforcing social control – Making sure people follow rules. ​ Discouraging revenge – Preventing personal retaliation. ​ Expressing morality – Reflecting society’s beliefs about right and wrong. ​ Deterring criminal behavior – Making people afraid to commit crimes. ​ Punishing wrongdoing – Holding offenders accountable. ​ Maintaining social order – Keeping society stable.  ​ Providing restoration – Helping victims recover from crime. 💡 Do these laws control crime? ​ Yes, they help prevent crime by setting clear consequences. ​ But, they don’t stop all crime—people still break laws due to personal or social factors. 3. Relationship Between Crime & Victimization Gender ​ Men commit more crimes, especially violent ones. ​ Women are more likely to be victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Race ​ Crime rates vary by racial groups, often influenced by socioeconomic factors. ​ Minority groups are more likely to be victims of violent crimes. Social Class ​ Lower-income areas often experience higher crime rates. ​ Wealthier individuals may commit more white-collar crimes (fraud, embezzlement). Age ​ Young people (teens & early 20s) commit more crimes. ​ Elderly individuals are less likely to commit crimes but can be easy targets for fraud. 4. Theories of Victimization Victim Precipitation Theory 🔹 Idea: Victims sometimes contribute to their victimization (e.g., provoking an attacker).​ 🔹 Example: 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.​ 🔹 Example: Someone who frequently goes out late at night in unsafe areas is at higher risk. Deviant Place Theory 🔹 Idea: Victimization is linked to living in high-crime areas.​ 🔹 Example: Someone in a dangerous neighborhood is more likely to be robbed. Routine Activities Theory 🔹 Idea: Crime happens when three things are present: 1.​ A motivated offender 2.​ A suitable target 🔹 3.​ Lack of guardianship (e.g., no police, no security cameras)​ Example: A thief sees an unlocked car with valuables inside and no one around.