Key Concepts: Chapter2 The Crime Picture

aggravated assault

the unlawful, intentional inflicting, or attempted or threatened inflicting, of serious injury upon the person of another

arson

the burning or attemped burning of property, with or without the intent to defraud

assault

an unlawful attack by one person upon another

Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS)

a U.S. Department of Justice agency responsible for collection of criminal justice data, including the annual National Crime Victimization Survey

burglary

the unlawful entry of a structure to commit a felony or a theft

clearance rate

a traditional measure of investigative effectiveness that compares the number of crimes reported or discovered to the number of crimes solved through arrest or other means(such as the death of the suspect

computer crime

any crime perpetrated through the use of computer technology

computer virus

a computer program designed to secrectly invade systems and either modify the way in which they operate or alter the information they store

corporate crime

a violation of a criminal statute by a corporate entity or by its exectives, employees, or agents acting on behalf and for the benefits of the corporation, partnership, or other form of business entity

Crime Index

an inclusive measure of the violent and property crime catagories, or Part 1 offenses, of the Uniform Crime Reports

crime typology

a classification of crimes along a paticular dimension, such as legal categories,offender motivation,victim behavior, or characteristics of individual offenders

cyberstalking

the use of the internet, e-mail, and other electronic communication technologies to stalk another person

cyberterrorism

a form of terrorism that makes use of high technology, especially computers and the internet, in the planning and carrying out of terrorist attacks

dark figure of crime

crime that is not reported to the police and that remains unknown to officials

date rape

unlawful forced sexual intercourse with a female against her will that occurs within the context of a dating relationship

domestic terrorism

the unlawful use of force or violence by a group or an individual who is based and operates entirely within the United States and its territories without foreign direction and whose acts are directed at elements of the U.S. government or population

forcible rape

the carnal knowledge of a female foricbly and against her will

hate crime

a criminal offense in which the motive is " hatred, bias,or prejudice, based on the actual or percieved race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation of another individual or group of individuals

identity theft

a crime in which an imposter obtains key pieces of information, such as Social Security and driver's license numbers, to obtain credit, merchandise, and services in the name of the victim

international terrorism

the unlawful use of force or violence by a group or an individual who has some connection to a foreign power or whose activities transcend national boundaries against people or property in order to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian populatio

larceny-theft

the unlawful taking or attempted taking, carrying, leading, or riding away of property from the possession or constructive possession of another

malware

malicious computer programs such as viruses, worms, and Trojan horses

motor vehicle theft

the theft or attempted theft of a motor vehicle

murder

the unlawful killing of a human being

National Crime Victimization Survey(NCVS)

an annuel survey of selected American households conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics to determine the extent of criminal victimization

National Incident-Based Reporting System(NIBRS)

an incident-based reporting system that collects data on every single crime occurrence

organized crime

the unlawful activities of the members of a highly organized, disciplined association engaged primarily in supplying illegal goods and services, including gambling, prostitution, loan-sharking, narcotics, and labor racketeering

Part I offenses

a set of UCR catergories used to report murder, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson, as defined under the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Program

Part II offenses

A set of UCR categories used to report arrests for less serious offenses

property crime

A UCR offense category that includes burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson

rape

unlawful sexual intercourse, achieved through force and without constent

robbery

the unlawful taking or attempted taking of property that is in the immediate possession of another by force or violence and/or by putting the victim in fear

sexual battery

intentional and wrongful physical contact with a person, without his or her consent, that entails a sexual component or purpose

software piracy

the unauthorized duplication of software or the illegal transfer of data from one storage medium to another

spam

unsolicited commercial bulk e-mail(UCBE), whose primary purpose is the commercial advertisement or promotion of a commercial product or service

stalking

repeated harassing and threatening behavior by one individual against another, aspects of which maybe planned or carried out in secret

terrorism

a violent act or an act dangerous to human life in violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any state committed to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof in furtherance of political or social ob

transnational organized crime

unlawful activity undertaken and supported by organized criminal groups operating across national boundaries

Uniform Crime Reports(UCR)

an annual FBI publication that summarizes the incidence and the rate of reported crimes throughout the United States

violent crime

A UCR offense category that includes murder, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault

white-collar crime

nonviolent crime for financial gain committed by means of deception by people whose occupational status is entrepreneurial, professional, or semiprofessional and that utilizes their special occupational skills and opportunities