To access Web-based resources supporting Criminology Today, please visit:

http://talkjustice.com/cybrary.asphttp://talkjustice.com/cybrary.asp

http://crimtoday.comhttp://crimtoday.com

http://www.prenhall.com/schmallegerhttp://www.prenhall.com/schmalleger

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Chapter 1

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What is Criminology?

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What is Crime?

• Legalistic

• Political

• Sociological

• Psychological

Perspectives

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Legalistic

What is Crime?Perspectives

Human conduct in violation of the criminal laws of a state, the federal government, or…

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… a local jurisdiction that has the power to make such laws

What is Crime?

Legalistic

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Crime is the result of criteria that have been built into the law by powerful groups, which...

What is Crime?Political

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What is Crime?Political

illegal

…are then used to label selected undesirable forms of behavior as

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Sees crime as an anti-social act of such a nature that its repression

What is Crime?Sociological

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Sees crime as an anti-social act of such a nature that its repression

What is Crime?Sociological

is necessary to the preservation of the existing system of society

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Crime is problem behavior that contravenes the criminal law and results in difficulties…

What is Crime?Psychological

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…in living within a framework of generally accepted social arrangements

What is Crime?Psychological

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Crime and DevianceDeviant Behavior

or is statistically different from the average

Human activity that violates social norms

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What Should Be Criminal?

• Consensus perspective

• Pluralist perspective

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Consensus perspectiveConsensus perspective

Laws should be enacted to criminalize certain forms of behavior when…

What Should Be Criminal?

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Consensus perspectiveConsensus perspective

…members of society generally agree that such laws are necessary

What Should Be Criminal?

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Pluralist perspectivePluralist perspective

What Should Be Criminal?

Behaviors are typically criminalized through a political process only…

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Pluralist perspectivePluralist perspective

…after debate over the appropriate course of action

What Should Be Criminal?

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Usually the political process takes the form of legislation and appellate court action

What Should Be Criminal?

Pluralist perspectivePluralist perspective

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Medical Marijuana in California

What Should Be Criminal?

Pluralist perspectivePluralist perspective

Example:

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Crime ExpertsCriminologistCriminologist

A person who studies crime, criminals and criminal behavior

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A specialist in the collection and examination of the physical evidence of crime

Crime ExpertsCriminalistCriminalist

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Criminology

An interdisciplinary profession built around the scientific study of crime and criminal behavior,…

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...including their manifestations, causes, legal aspects, and control

Criminology

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• A social scientific discipline

• An interdisciplinary field of study

Criminology

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• A profession

• Cross-professional

Criminology

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Criminal Justice

The scientific study of crime, the criminal law, and the components of the justice system,…

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Criminal Justice

…including the police, courts and corrections

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Social Policy &Theory

• Social problems perspective

• Social responsibility perspective

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• Crime is a social event

• Crime is a social construction

Social Policy &Theory

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• Crime embraces the concept of social relativity

Social Policy &Theory

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• Offender

• Victim

• Society

• Justice system

Social Policy &TheoryCrime means different things to the:

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Crime and Criminal Behavior

• Social in nature

• Controlled by an effective social policy

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