criminology
the scientific study of the nature. extent, cause, and control of criminal behavior
interdisciplinary
involving two or more academic fields
criminal justice
system made up of the agencies of social control, such as police departments, the courts and correctional institutions that handle criminal offenders
criminological enterprise
the various subareas included within the scholarly discipline of criminology, which taken as a whole, defined the field of study
valid measure
a measure that actually measures what it purports to measure; a measure that is factual
white collar crim
illegal acts that capitalize on a person's status in the marketplace. may include theft, embezzlement, fraud, market manipulation, restraint of trade, and false advertising
penology
subarea of criminology that focuses on the correction and control of criminal defenders.
rehabilitation
treatment of criminal offenders that is aimed at preventing future criminal behavior
capital punishment
the execution of criminal offenders; the death penalty
mandatory sentences
a statuatory requirement that a certain penalty shall be carried out in all cases of conviction for a specified offense or a series of offenses
victimology
the study of the victim's role in criminal events
criminal statistics
gathering valid crim data. devising new research methods; measuring crime patters and trends
sociology of law/law and society/socio-legal studies
determining the origin of law. measuring the forces that can change laws and society
theory contruction
predicting individual behavior. understanding the cause of crime rates and trends
criminal behavior systems
determining the nature and cause of specific crime patters. Studying violence, theft, organized crime, white-collar crime and public order crimes
utilitarianism
the view that people's behavior is motivated by the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain
classical criminology
theoretical perspective suggesting that people have free will to choose criminal or conventional behaviors and people chose to commit crime for reasons of green or personal need and crime can be controlled by fear
positivism
the branch of social science that uses the scientific method of the natural sciences and suggests that human behavior is a product of social, biological, psychological or economic forces
scientific method
the use of verifiable principles and procedures for the systematic acquisition of knowledge. typically involves formulating a problem, creating a hypothesis and collecting data, through observation and experiment, to verify the hypothesis
biosocial theory
approach to criminology that focuses on the interaction between biological and social factors as they are related to crime
anomie
a lack of norms or clear social standards. because of rapidly shifting moral values, the individual has few guide to what is socially accpetable
sociological criminology
approach to criminology, based on the work of quetelet and durkheim, that focuses on the relationship between social factors and crime
chicago school
group of urban sociologists who studies the relationship between environmental conditions and crime
socialization
PROCESS OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND ENCULTURATION
is influenced by key social processes
conflict theory
the view that human behavior is shaped by interpersonal conflict and that those who maintain social power will use it to further their own ends
critical criminology
the view that crime is a producet of the capitalist system
devleopmental theory
the view that criminality is a dynamic process, influenced by social experiences as well as individual characteristics
rational choice theory
the view that crime is a function of a decision making process in which the would be offender weighs the potential costs and benefits of an illegal act
trait theory
the view that criminality is a product of abnormal biological or psychological traits
social structure theory
the view that disadvantaged economic class position is primary cause of crime
social process theory
the view that criminality is a function of people's interactions with various organizations, institutions, and processes in society
deviance
behavior that departs from the social norm but is not necessarily criminal
classical/choice perspective
situational forces. crime is a function of free will and personal choice. punishment is a deterrent to crime
biological/psychological perspective
internal forces. crime is a function of chemical, neurological, genetic, personality, intelligence or mental traits
structural perspective
ecological forces. crim rates are a function of neighborhood conditions, cultural forces and norm conflict
process perspective
socialization forces. crime is a function of upbringing, learning, and control. Peers, parents, and teachers influence behavior
conflict perspective
economic and political forces. crime is a function of competition for limited resources and power. class conflict produces crime
developmental perspective
multiple forces. biological, social-psychological, economic, and political forces may combine to produce crime
critical criminologists
members of a france of criminology that focuses on the oppression of the poor, women, and minorities, thereby linking class conflict, sexism and racism to crime rates. exam how those who hold political and economic power shape the law to uphold their self interests
crime
an act, deemed socially harmful or dangerous, that is specifically defined, prohibited and punished under the criminal law
decriminalized
having criminal penalties reduced rather than eliminated
appellate court
court that reviews trial court procedures to determine whether they have complied with accepted rules and constitutional doctrines
consensus view
the belief that the majority of citizens in a society share common values and agree on what behaviors should be defined as criminal
criminal law
the written code that defines crimes and their punishments
conflict view
the belief that criminal behavior is defined by those in power in such a way as to protect and advance their own self interest
interactionist view
the belief that those with social power are able to impose their values on society as a whole and these vaults then define criminal behavior
code of hammurabie
the first written criminal code, developed in babylonia 2000B.C
mosaic code
laws of the ancient israelites found in the old testament of the judeo christian bible
felony
a serious offense that carries a penalty of imprisonment, usually for one year or more, and my entail loss of political rights
misdemeanor
a minor crime usually punished by a short jail term and/or a fine