In order to understand the application of deviance and crime to modern society it is vital we recognise the expectations of each society of what is acceptable and what is unacceptable behaviour. The best mechanism to describe these expectations (or unwritten rules to successfully functioning in society) is norms. Norms are values, customs, and traditions which represent individuals' basic knowledge of what others do and what others think that they should do. In other words, norms are collective representations of acceptable conduct. When formal norms are made by governments and are supported by the threat of force, they are laws. Breaking a law is deviant (just like breaking a social norm - queue jumping, picking your nose) but it is also a crime.
Crime is an act that violates the written laws of a society. If someone commits a crime they can be arrested, charged and prosecuted. Deviance is behaviour which does not comply with the norms of a specific society. If people are seen as deviant it can lead to negative sanctions such as being told off or ridiculed.
Mike sits in a restaurant talking loudly on his mobile phone whilst others are eating and talking. This is deviant as he is not breaking any law, but his actions are socially unacceptable. Jasmine punched a pregnant lady in the face. This is illegal and criminally deviant as she committed an assault, the fact that she punched a pregnant lady also makes it appear worse to our social norms - we add more judgement and bias based on her victim and actions.
Criminal justice system: Who polices the law?
1.Police: responsible for crime prevention, detection and investigation; may give out cautions, fines or make referrals to a court; 2.Court: a magistrate or judge and jury determine the guilt or innocence of an alleged offender and may give community service, a fine or incarceration in a correctional facility; 3.Corrections: prisons and juvenile institutions;
Types of Crime
The video examples below were made by my Year 11 Sociology students @ KDC in 2015.
Crime Against the Person
Acts that are against other persons that include threatening, harassing or injuring another person or depriving them of their freedoms; Fatal crimes against person 1. Homicide (killing of another): a. murder (malicious or premeditated killing), including serial killers [several people over time] and mass murderers [several people within the one event]; MODE OF OPERATING = MO b. voluntary manslaughter (intentional killing but with mental incapacity); WRONG STATE OF MIND c. involuntary manslaughter (unintentional killing due to careless behaviour e.g. drink driving, self defence); 2. Infanticide (killing a newborn child); 3. Euthanasia (killing somebody suffering from incurable pain or disease); 4. Suicide (killing oneself); Non-fatal crimes against person 1. Sex (sexual acts without consent; under-age sex. PORNOGRAPHY - CHILD); rape; molestation 2. Robbery (the unlawful taking of property from another person without their consent, accompanied by threats or actual force); 3. Assault (a threat or attempt to carry out an unlawful physical act on another person without their consent, which causes them to fear violence); {Verbal Assault}; 4. Battery (actual physical contact); {Physical Assault}; 5. Hate crimes (assault based on ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender or disability);
White Collar
Non-violent economic crimes including fraud and embezzlement that were originally perpetrated by office workers and professionals in the middle-class against business;
Tax fraud/EVASION Illegal sales practices Securities and land frauds Embezzlement Manufacture or sale of dangerous products Internet/email scams Credit card fraud Identity theft
Against Property
Acts that are intended to damage or destroy homes, businesses or land, or involve household burglary or vehicle theft;
Graffiti;
Arson (using fire to destroy);
Burglary (home or business);
Theft (vehicle or property);
Destruction (smashing and trashing);
Animal abuse – neglect, dog fights, bestiality,
Victimless
Acts that involve a crime whereby all individuals consent (does not include minors, mentally ill or under the influence) to the criminal activity and whereby nobody is harmed in the process; Prostitution (consensual); Riding a bike without a helmet; Driving a car without a seatbelt; Gambling; Illicit drug use; Soliciting prostitution; Pornography consumption (making, selling, buying); Public orders (public nudity, public fornication, public drunkenness);
Corporate
Criminal acts carried out by corporations; Often results in a class action (Class actionsare representative proceedings brought by one person on behalf of a group of people.Class actionsare there to assist in resolving common issues and factual disputes amongst that group); 1. Administrative (paperwork or non-compliance) 2. Environmental (pollution, permit violations) 3. Financial (tax violations, illegal payments) 4. Labour (working conditions, hiring practices) 5. Manufacturing (product safety, labelling) 6. Unfair trade practices (anti-competition, false advertising);