Reading...
Play button
Play button
Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
9 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
Criminal Event Theory
|
- Examines the precursors, transactions, and attachments of criminal events
- Examines the settings in which criminal events take place |
|
|
The "Typical" Offender
|
- Most offenders young males 15-24, lower socioeconomic status, unemployed/temporarily unemployed
- 15-24 age group represented 14% of population in '03; while accounting for 45% of violent crime reports & 32% property crime |
|
|
The Police
|
- Police often have direct influence on whether or not an act comes to be regarded as a crime
- May let someone off with warning if they come from a "good family", yet arrest someone who does same thing because they're "street kid" |
|
|
Proactive Policing & Reactive Policing (DEFINITIONS)
|
Proactive Policing: have more patrols and actively searching out crimes; higher likelihood of an act being defined as criminal
Reactive policing: only respond to crimes reported to them or that they happen to witness; fewer acts are likely to be defined as crimes |
|
|
Reporting Crimes
|
- Many crimes don't come to the attention of police
- Victims decide for some reason not to report them - Unreported/unknown amount of crime is estimated as high as 66% + of all crimes committed - Victims more likely to report serious crimes or where serious crimes where perpetrator is a stranger - Less likely to report less serious crimes, or crimes where perpetrator knows them (family, friend, etc.) - Victims of crime sometimes involved in criminal activities themselves, and are reluctant to draw attention of police to their own activities |
|
|
The Dark Figure of Recording (Reporting Crimes)
|
- Once crime is reported to police, goes through process of assessment, classification and sometimes recording
- Police decision making influenced by variety of factors: relationship (if any) b/w offender & victim; policing style of individual officer; suspects characteristics; preferences of the complainant |
|
|
The Kansas City Experiment (1972-73; Kansas City)
|
- Tested proactive, reactive and control responses to police visibility
- Surveyed 15 beats - 5 proactive, 5 reactive, 5 control Results: - 40% + police officer's time uncommitted - No statistically significant differences in crime rates over period of study - Lowest crime rate reported in reactive beats - No significant increase/decrease in arrest rates between three groups - No significant increase in citizens' perceptions of crime risks |
|
|
The Social Setting
|
- Crime rates generally higher in urban areas than rural
- Higher in economically disadvantaged urban areas w/ unstable population (Hastings) - Lower in "better off" urban areas with stable population (Suburbs) Stats: - 50% of all victimizations take place in/around homes of victims (other private residences) - 25% take place in commercial settings (malls, restaurants, bars) - 25% take place in public places (parks, streets, parking lots) |
|
|
The Temporal Setting
|
- Criminal events also occur at predictable times in particular places
- Criminal activity is shaped/influenced by time of day, day of week, month of year and season - Robberies and assaults most likely to occur at night (b/w 6pm & 6am) - Homes more susceptible to breaking and entering during the summer |
