CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE

CRIME AND JUSTICE IN AMERICA

 

 

  1. CRIMES AND JUSTICE AS PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES
    1. Contemporary Politics

      2. Conservative:

       

       

       

       

       

      Liberal:

       

       

       

       

      Textbook website

       

    2. Crime Control versus Due Process (page 9,10)

      3.  

       

       

       

    3. The Politics of Crime and Justice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Role of Media:

 

II. Defining Crime

 

 

 

 

  1. PERSPECTIVES ON CRIMES

 Consensus

Criminal acts are harmful to society and must be controlled

 

 

 Conflict View:

Crimes are defined by those groups who hold political power based on their values and beliefs and they are designed to benefit them.

 

 

 

 Mala in Se (consensus)

 

 

 

 Mala Prohibita: (conflict view)

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. TYPES OF CRIME:

 

A. Visible (street crime

 

 

 

 

 

 
      B. Occupational Crime

       

       

       

      C. Organized Crime:

       

       

       

      D. Victimless crimes:

       

      E. Political Crimes:

       

       

       

       

      F. Cyber Crime:

 

 

 

 

 

IV. CRIME PROBLEM TODAY

A. Comparative Crime

B. Keeping Track of Crime

 

 Uniform Crime Reports

Part 1--Reports 8 index crimes

H- homicide

A- Aggravated Assault

R- robbery

M- Motor Vehicle Theft

B- Burglary

A- Arson

R- rape

T- theft (larceny)

All other offenses are Part 2--less serious

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Result: Under reports actual crime

 

NIBRS (National Incident Based Reporting System)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Victimization Data-- National Crime Victimization Survey Data

Measures six crimes

B- burglary (habitation)

A-assault

A- auto theft

R- robbery (personal)

R- rape (changed 1992. Added more sexual offenses and changed interview style)

T- Theft (household and personal)

Does not include murder and arson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Self-Report Data

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

C. Trends in Crime

 Total Crime Index (UCR)

 

 

 

 

 

Violent crime:

 

 

 

 

Homicide Rate:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property Crime:

 

 

 

 

 

 Victimization Survey

 

Violent Crime:

 

 

 

 

Property Crime:

 

 

 

 Self Report Surveys

 

 

Trends:

 

 

 

 

D. Explaining Crime Trends
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