Exam (elaborations)
CRM 1300 Introduction to Criminology all Lecture notes (exam tips) University of Ottawa
- Course
- Institution
CRM 1300 Introduction to Criminology all Lecture notes (exam tips) University of Ottawa
[Show more]
Content preview
CRM 1300 Introduction to Criminologyall Lecture notes (exam tips) University
of Ottawa
CRM 1300 Introduction to Criminology all Lecture notes (exam tips) University of Ottawa
Lecture 1: INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY
, lOMoARcPSD|6353920
WHO IS A CRIMINAL?
What do you think of when you hear the word “crime”?
● Stealing
● Illegal acts
● Acts against society
● Punishment of crimes in different cultures
What is your image of a criminal?
● Sketchy
● Self-centred
Why do you think we study crime?
● Why people commit crimes
● Prevention
● The brain of a criminal
● How crime effects society
● The difference between wrong and right in different societies
● Effects on everyone
1. OUR FASCINATION WITH CRIME Why
do we study crime?
Crime as a “Public Issue” (C. Wright Mills)
● Crime affects everyone
Crime as a sociological problem (Beirne & Messerschmidt)
● Crime is an act that goes against societal norms
Expansion of the field: The CSI effect
● Media has made crime into an obsession
The fame of crime & criminals: A modern obsession?
● Because of the CSI effect
OUR OBSESSION WITH CRIME:
Images of violent crime dominate:
● Do not happen often
● CSI effect
● Plays into fears
Crime reflects the public culture:
● How society responds to crime
● Example: marijuana becoming legal
Crime and media
● Dominated media messages of crime
● Distorted images of crime Crime
myths/distorted images of crime
● More people are in jail for petty crimes than violent crimes
Our neighbours to the south
● We share some cultural elements
, lOMoARcPSD|6353920
● They have harsher punishments
3. CRIME AS A SOCIAL CONSTRUCT:
Crime is a product of time, society, powerful people views A
range of criminality in society
● Some violent crimes punish harshly and others similar violent crimes do not punish as
harshly
Most of us violate the law
● Not all are violent
● Example: J-walking
Hard to distinguish between criminals & non-criminals
● It is a myth that you can differentiate the look of a criminal
● In history, Criminologist used to try to find ways to identify criminals
Crime varies across time and space
● There are always crimes on how to handle crime
● Decisions are made by the criminal justice system
● Laws and punishments have changed over history
○ Example: marijuana laws
● In different geographical spaces laws and punishments are different
, lOMoARcPSD|6353920
Lecture 2: WHAT IS A CRIME? WHO IS A CRIMINAL? WE ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER, RIGHT?
1. Criminology and definitional issues:
What is a crime?
● An action against the law that is defined and implemented by the state
What is deviance?
● An action against societal norms and beliefs
● Not breaking the laws
Role of the state in determining crime
● Specifying what laws are legal and illegal
● Must enforce the laws
● Maintain the image of violence
Selective nature of criminal definitions
● A product of culture, time, countries
The dark figure of crime
● A lot of crime goes undetected and unreported
● Up to state officials which laws to enforce
○ Police may let someone go even if they have possession of marijuana
Crimes not just about legislation
● Who host of influences to see is a behaviour is breaking a law
“Mala in se”
● Intent, evil, seriously wrong
○ murder
“mala prohibita”
● Not evil, act regualted by law
● Some criminologist don't believe there should be a focus on mala prohibita
● Very controveral
○ Corporate crimes
Victimless Crimes?
● Gambling, drug use
Heroic Crimes?
● Vigilantism is controversal
● Not supposed to take the law into your own hands
Some criminals as victims?
● Cycle of violence
○ Victimized early in life later become the abuser
● Unequal society
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller smartzone. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $11.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
77254 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now
