Crime in Canada PDF

Tuesday September 24, 2024 Crime in Canada - Violent crime is not the most violent type of crime but it’s often the most talked about. - Property crime is the most common. E.g., Theft, shoplifting, etc. - Violent crime does not inflict the most har...

Tuesday September 24, 2024 Crime in Canada - Violent crime is not the most violent type of crime but it’s often the most talked about. - Property crime is the most common. E.g., Theft, shoplifting, etc. - Violent crime does not inflict the most harm on society. - White collar crimes has a lot of harm as a whole to society. E.g., fraud, embezzlement, money laundering, etc. - Most people who commit crimes do not have a mental illness. It’s usually just spur of the moment, opportunity, or rationally planned out. - People over the age of 65 have the highest fear of being a victim of crime, but, have the lowest likelihood of actually being a victim of crime. - People under the age of 24 are most likely to be victim of crimes - Less than 1% of serious crimes are solved through forensic/scientific evidence. - Crime is solved by investigation, leads, etc. - Firearm evidence takes the most time to analyze, whilst DNA evidence takes the least. The CSI Effect: - Thinking most crimes need to have forensic evidence to solve them. - Gives unrealistic expectations on crime solving. - Raises the standard of proof among investigators - The jury and people in general are influenced by these shows by making them think forensic evidence is the end all and be all. - People who watch these shows feel crime is increasing and getting worse, more unsafe communities, more support for the police, thinks they are more likely to become a victim, and more tough on crime someone who watches these shows. What is a Crime - A violation of a norm that has been codified into criminal law - An act or omission that is against the law and punishable upon conviction o Act: E.g., Assaulting someone, kidnapping someone, stealing o Omission: Failure to act E.g., not moving for a police car, social worker not reporting a sexual assault case, withholding information from the police, not filing taxes. - Crimes are outlined in the Criminal Code of Canada Types of Crimes: - Hate Crimes: o Elliot Rodger: An incel (involuntary celibate) who when on a shooting spree as “revenge” against women. o Hate crimes are criminal offences committed against a person or property that are intended to intimidate or harm a person or the group to which they belong. o Hate crimes can be committed based upon gender, sex, sexual orientation, religion, race/ethnicity, disability, social class, political views. ▪ E.g., spray painting swastikas on a synagogue, bullying someone because they’re black, etc. - Property: o Unlawfully taking or attempting to take someone’s property from them (without violence), or deliberately damaging another person’s property o E.g., Car theft (Honda CRV #1 most stolen), breaking and entering, shoplifting, vandalism, arson o Theft 2 categories (not involving a motor vehicle): Theft under $5000 and over $5000 o Theft under $5000 is most reported - Crimes of the Powerful: o Difficult to prosecute due to the financials of the powerful, E.g., hush money, good lawyers. Ignored because of later effects o Occupational Crimes (white collar crimes): ▪ Committed by criminals for financial gain of the individual  ▪Usually committed in the workplace but can still be committed by someone not in that line of work. ▪ E.g., Embezzlement, tax evasion, using other people for financial gain, money laundering, fraud o Organizational Crimes (corporate crimes): ▪ Committed by criminals for the organization, for status, money, etc. ▪ Workplace death by careless organization. ▪ E.g., All workers in a coal mine got killed in explosion, the organization failed to properly identify and act on safety rules, yet no one was persecuted., Teflon, dry shampoos contain carcinogenic ingredients. Ford Pinto (explosion) would cost too much money to replace with a new design. Boeing 737 - Crimes Against the Person: o 1. Assault: 3 Levels ▪ 1. Common Assault ▪ 2. Assault with a weapon ▪ 3. Aggravated Assault o 2. Homicide ▪ When someone directly or indirectly causes the death of a human being ▪ 1st degree murder Planned and deliberate Killing a police officer, or an on-duty justice worker. Homicide committed during the commission of another crime: o Hijacking, hostage taking, terrorist activity, sexual assault, kidnapping, or forcible confinement. Conviction: Automatic life sentence, eligible for parole after 25 years and then constant watch by police. ▪ 2nd degree murder Intent to kill, but wasn’t premeditated Conviction: Automatic life sentence, eligible for parole after 10-25 years. ▪ 3 degree murder (Manslaughter) rd No intent to kill Can be result of criminal negligence or recklessness  Conviction: No minimum sentence (if firearm was used AUTOMATIC minimum of 4 years.), maximum sentence is life, eligible for parole is 7-10 years ▪ Infanticide The death of a baby less than 1 year of age Infanticide is only DONE by the biological mother due to postpartum depression Conviction: Maximum sentence of 5 years o 3. Robbery o 4. Sexual Assault: 3 Levels Why are violent crimes more likely to be solved than property crimes? - Violent Crimes involve another person, unlike property crimes - More witnesses - Much more likely to know our assailant whereas property crimes are more likely to be committed by a stranger Why is someone convicted of a property crime more likely to get a prison sentence than someone found guilty of violent crime: - People who are committing property crimes are more likely to be repeat offenders - People who commit violent crimes are likely just a spur of a moment and not usually repeat offenders Organized Crime and Gangs: - The Criminal Intelligence Service Canada estimates there were 672 criminal organizations in Canada in 2013 - Organized crimes dates back at least 400 years in Canada - Organized crime offenders are usually generalists: o Generalists are those that engage in a broad range of criminal activities, such as selling weapons, counterfeit items, antiquities or cultural artifacts, drugs, endangered species, gemstones, alcohol, cigarettes, firearms, illegally harvested timber, or even involved in sex trade. o They participate in illegal sports wagering, environmental crimes, and financial crimes. - Over one third of first-degree murders, and half of drug-related violations in Canada were related to organized crime. - What’s considered a Criminal Organization:  o When a group of 3 or more people come together to commit one or more serious offences intended to result in material benefit - RCMP sidelined more than 300 investigations and redirected $100 million to its national security squads against organized crime. CRIME STATS - Safest countries o Canada is ranked 11th safest country out of 163 countries o U.S. is ranked 131 safest countries of 163 o Iceland is ranked 1st safest country of 163 (rmbr thaaat) Calculating Crime Rate - Halifax had 8 reported homicides in 2017 - Montreal had 46 homicides in 2017 - Equation: (# of offences x 100,000) / population = n homicides per 100,000 people o Halifax: (8 homicides x 100,000) / 431,721 = 1.4 homicides/ 100,000 ppl o Montreal: (46 homicides x 100,000) / 4,148,023 = 1.1 homicides/ 100,000 ppl o Thunderbay has highest homicide count per 100,000 people - Limitations of relying on Crime Rates: o Results in misrepresentation because all types of crimes are treated equally o All offences (both serious and minor) are given the same weight, treated equally o The crime rate measures the volume of crime and not the severity of crime o Based solely on offences reported to the police. Doesn’t account for the dark figure of crime (unreported crime) CSI (Crime Severity Index) - Measures police reported crime in an area (city, province, country) - Measures both volume and severity of police reported crime - Each crime is given a weight based on a scale of severity - Based on the court sentence impose over the last 5 years (the average) o The more severe a sentence, the higher weight assigned to the offence. - Highest CSI rated province: Saskatchewan Lowest CSI rated province: Ontario Factors that can influence Crime Statistics other than actual increase in Crime - Changes in reporting  o E.g., Reporting of Sexual assault cases increased due to movements o E.g., Drinking and driving because people are less tolerant - Changes in policing o E.g., Police decide to do a crackdown on areas with high speeding for example or gang activities. - Changes in technology o E.g., Speeding/Red light cameras catching more people, surveillance cameras on households, witnesses can pull out cameras now - Changes in legislation o E.g., Cybercrimes didn’t exist, distracted driving Avoidance Behaviours - Avoiding specific areas to reduce one’s risk of becoming a victim - Ottawa Crime Map - Specific anti-crime measures designed to reduce one’s risk of becoming a victim o Pepper spray, rape whistle, self-defense course, go on phone, go to busy place Reporting Crime – Victimization Surveys - #1 reason why people don’t report crimes is because they don’t think the police will consider the incident to be important enough. - Victimization surveys are collected every 5 years over the phone or online; must be 15+ years old o Asked whether they have been victimized in the previous year and if those crimes were reported to the police - Most reported offence: Theft Under $5,000 - Least reported offence: Sexual Assault - Cyber bullying overwhelmingly affects young people, but rarely get police attention - Advantages of Victimization Surveys: o Addresses the dark figure (unreported) of crimes - Disadvantages of Victimization Surveys: o Only asks people 15+ although people between ages 12-14 have high rates of victimization o Must have access to the internet/phone ▪ Not includes homeless people although victimized at high rates ▪ Seniors o Response bias, people may lie and give inaccurate bias o Telescoping: Bringing an event forward in time  ▪ E.g., Survey asks past year, but crime took place 18 months ago yet the surveyed says it anyway.\ ▪ Does not go into all types of offenses Risk Factors Associated with Victimization - Those aged 15-24 are at high risk of victimization and to be the perpetrators. Victimizing each other. - Gender: o Males are highest reported in police reported data and most likely to be victimized o In victimization surveys females are more likely to be victimized - More likely to be victimized by someone we know - Residential Status: o Renters have higher chance of being victimized ▪ Less pride in property, less care because it’s rented o A homeowner cares more about property, has cameras, cares about neighbours, etc. - Members of marginalized groups such as LBTQG, indigenous, African American communities, disabled people are likely victims. - Summer has the highest crime rates Self-Report Surveys - An unofficial question that asks individuals about their engagement in criminal behaviours - Provides insight into: o When individuals start committing offences o What types of offences they commit o Whether crime differs based on gender, race, social status and age. o Addresses dark figure of crime