CCJS 105: Introduction to CriminologyFinal Exam Study Guide (cumulative portion)The final exam will consist of 100 multiple choice questions. Approximately half of these questions will be drawn from the content covered in the first two exams. In order to assist your studies a comprehensive list of these items are included below. That is, only these items appearing below will be drawn from in compiling the cumulative portion of the final exam. Please note that some of the terms and concepts listed below are broader than others.The dark figure of crimeUnreported and unrecorded crimesStrengths and limitations of both the UCR and NCVSUCRHierarchy rule: only the most serious crime is countedSample comes from police departments- official reports are drawn from law enforcement agency recordsIf a person commits a crime in a city, it does not necessarily mean that they live there, but they will influence crime rates (ecological fallacy)Most consistent definition of crime across jurisdictionsCan track trends in dataNational figures can be broken down- these are raw counts & represent a census8 index crimes included, most serious crimesHomicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny/theft, motor vehicle theft, arsonNCVSSample comes from households with telephonesCovers a broader set of crimes, does not include homicide or victimless crimesUnderreports rapes because of stigma, less likely to be discussedSeries victimization: a serious of crimes committed by the same person is recorded as a single crime occurringExcludes institutions like jails & businessesTelescoping & memory decayEliminated by boundingQuantitative and Qualitative dataQuantitative- statisticsQualitative- narrative recount of eventsThe 3 part definition of criminologyMaking, breaking, and reaction to breaking of the lawCrime patterns:16-24 year olds are most likely to commit crimesHighest crime rates between 6 pm and 6 amMales commit more crimes than females, but since the 1960’s female crime rate has been increasing faster than male crime ratesUrban areas have more crimeWhites commit the most crimesBut are overrepresented in drug abuse & white collar crimeBlacks and Hispanics are overrepresented, especially with violent crimes & homicidesLower class is more likely to commit crimeConflict versus consensus theoriesConflict- power struggle between 2 or more groups that have differing views of the norms of societyBelief that the law disproportionally reflects the interest of a powerful minority within societyConsensus- society as a whole agrees to what the norms areBelief that the law reflects the interest of most people in societyMala in se and mala prohibitaMala in se- inherently wrongRape, murderMala prohibita- wrong because it is illegalDrugsActus reus and mens reaActus reus- guilty actMens rea- guilty mindBoth must be present in order for a crime to have occurredBeccariaVictim-offender overlapTypically both the victim and offender have similarities- both are males, both are in the same social class, etc.The science of criminology3 criteria required to establish causal relationshipCorrelationTemporal orderingMust eliminate spuriousness- the potential for a third elementThe role of ideology and politicsBasic beliefs or values may filter scientific informationScience can be used to advance political claimsLegal or economic pressure can influence the findings of scientific research or the way it is disseminated, reported, or interpretedIndependent and dependent variablesCross-sectional and longitudinal dataCross-sectional: data collected at 1 point in timeLongitudinal: data collected over timeMacro/microMacro: groups- gangs, neighborhoods, states, nations, etc.Micro: individual- background, psychological factors, etc.Relative rates of crimes and crime numbers produced by UCR and NCVSNCVS estimates more crime than the UCRSelf-report dataSimilar to NCVS but not series victimizationTelescoping & memory decaySampling from general populationBased on offender behaviorPeople may be dishonest or not know how to answerNYS- National Youth SurveySample comes from public school studentsMore information on deviance rather than crimeLimited because many deviants may not be in schoolImportant figures:Emile DurkheimSociological criminologyAnomie: state of normlessness causes more crimes to occurLack of rules and definitions about what the function of society should beTends to occur most often during times of change in societal valuesOrganic & mechanical solidarityMoving from mechanical to organic solidarity causes more crime because the more specific your job is, the more you have to rely on othersCesare BeccariaClassical criminologyDeterrenceSwiftness, severity, certaintyCertainty is most important and most effectiveEmphasized less severityBook- Crime and PunishmentAgainst the death penaltyBrutalization effect- increase of homicides in places that have the death penaltyA given act should be given equal punishmentRight to a speedy trialSociety must have a say- jury of peersDecision making processes of justice should be public knowledgeCesare LombrosoBiological criminologyThe born criminalBook- On Criminal Man- 4 types of criminalsPhrenology- studying the skullTravis HirschiSocial bonds theoryMore bonds you have, more invested in others you are, less likely you are to commit crime4 elements of the bondAttachmentEmotional/affective bond, psychological presenceCommitmentRational component, considers consequencesRestraint that comes from not wanting to sacrifice the gains one has made in conventional institutions, like education, by engaging in criminal behaviorStakes in conformityInvolvementIdle hands are the devil’s playgroundBeliefIn the moral worth of society’s lawsLow self controlSelf control develops until age 8 and then it stays consistentEstablished by parents- supervision, recognition, & punishmentIf you have low self control you are more likely to commit crimeWill want to engage in behavior for immediate gratificationCross-sectional studiesShaw & McKay (zone II)Chicago school of thoughtSocial disorganization theory- 3 factors of increased delinquency/social disorganizationConstant changeInvasion, dominance, successionWidespread povertyDilapidated housing, low SES, homogeneity of each groupOther social illsBreakdown of families & community- informal social controlLack of stable societal institutions- formal social controlZone 2- zone of transitionPeople who are living there tended to move quicklyZone where no one
View Full Document
Unlocking...