Criminology Worksheets 1-15 PDF

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Unit 1 Criminology Key Terms 1. Civil law – Set of rules that govern relations between private parties, including both individuals and organizations. 2. Common law- feudal rules and practices, tribal custom, and everyday rules of behavior in local villages. 3. Conflict view- the view that human behavior is shaped by interpersonal conflict and that those who maintain social power use it to further their own needs. 4. Consensus view- the belief that most citizens in a society share common ideals and work towards a common good. Crimes are outlawed because they conflict with rules of the majority and are harmful to society. 5. Crime typology – study of criminal behavior using research on links between different types of crimes and criminals. 6. Criminal justice- the field of study that focuses on law enforcement, the legal system, corrections, and other agencies involved in enforcing and punishing in regards to crime. 7. Criminologists- researchers who use scientific methods to study the nature, extent, cause, and control of criminal behavior. 8. Criminology- the scientific study of the nature, extent, cause, and control of criminal behavior. 9. Deviant behavior- behavior that departs from the social norm. 10. Felony- a serious offense that is punishable by a prison sentence or capital punishment. 11. Interactionist view- the view that one’s perception of reality is significantly influenced by one’s interpretations of the reactions of others to similar events and stimuli. 12. Justice- the quality of being fair under the law. 13. Mala in se- acts that are outlawed because they violate basic moral values. 14. Mala prohibitum- acts that are outlawed because they clash with current norms and public opinion.

15. Misdemeanor- a minor or petty crime that is typically punished by a fine, community sentence, or jail term. 16. Moral entrepreneurs- interest groups that attempt to control social life and the legal order in such ways as to promote their own personal set or moral values. 17. Procedural criminal laws- laws that set out the basic rules of practice in the criminal justice system. 18. Public law- the branch of law that deals with the government and its relationships with individuals or other governments. 19. Scientific method- using verifiable principles and procedures for the systematic acquisition of knowledge. 20. Social harm- a view that behaviors harmful to other people and society in general must be controlled. 21. Stalking statutes- laws that prohibit willing and repeated following and harassment of another person. 22. Substantive criminal law- the branch of the law that defines crimes and their punishment.

Review Questions 1. What is criminology? the scientific study of the nature, extent, cause, and control of criminal behavior. 2. What is the difference between crime and deviance? Many crimes are not unusual or deviant and many deviant crimes are neither illegal nor criminal. a. Is all crime deviant? No b. Is all deviant behavior criminal? No 3. Explain what criminologist do: researchers who use scientific methods to study the nature, extent, cause, and control of criminal behavior. 4. How are criminologists involved in gathering criminal statistics and measurements? Formulate techniques, develop surveys, identify victims of crime, and develop data. 5. What does theory construction and testing consist of? Models and frameworks for understanding human behavior and the forces that shape its content and direction. 6. What is victimology? The study of victims and victimization. 7. Explain each of the following: a. consensus view- the belief that most citizens in a society share common ideals and work towards a common good. Crimes are outlawed because they conflict with rules of the majority and are harmful to society. b. conflict view- the view that human behavior is shaped by interpersonal conflict and that those who maintain social power use it to further their own needs.

8. interactionist view- the view that one’s perception of reality is significantly influenced by one’s interpretations of the reactions of others to similar events and stimuli. 9. Describe each of the following categories of law: a. Substantive criminal law- the branch of the law that defines crimes and their punishment.

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b. Procedural criminal law- laws that set out the basic rules of practice in the criminal justice system. c. Civil law- Set of rules that govern relations between private parties, including both individuals and organizations. d. Public law (administrative) - the branch of law that deals with the government and its relationships with individuals or other governments. List and explain the 7 goals of criminal law. 1. Enforcing social control: prohibits harmful behaviors against others. 2. Discouraging private revenge: punishing people who infringe on the rights, property, and freedom of others. 3. Expressing public opinion and morality: reflects constantly changing public opinions and moral values. 4. Deterring criminal behavior: social control function. 5. Punishing wrongdoing: deterrent power tied to authority that punished offenders. 6. Maintaining social order: support and maintain boundaries of the social system. 7. Providing restoration: victims deserve restitutions or compensation for their pain and loss. Explain each of the following as they relate to criminal law: a. Define crime- guilty act with criminal intent. b. Actus reus- guilty actions must be voluntary. c. Mens rea- crime is done with criminal intent or a guilty mind. d. Strict liability- crime committed without intent. What is a criminal defense? List and explain a few types. Defending oneself against criminal charges by denying actus reus or lacking mens rea. Discuss the following issues and how they have evolved: a. Stalking laws- “three strikes law” b. Prohibiting assisted suicide- statutory ban on assisted suicide c. Registering sex offenders- sexual predator law d. Clarifying rape- sodomy laws e. Controlling technology- Virginia’s Computer Crimes Act f. Protecting the environment- The Environmental Protection Agency g. Legalizing marijuana- Legalization of Marijuana in Colorado, Alaska, Oregon, Washington, and the District of Columbia h. Responding to terrorism- USA Patriot Act List and explain the two main ethical issues in criminology. Political: what is okay to outlaw (gun control and capital punishment) Social: lives of millions can be influenced

Unit 1: Chapter 2 Criminology Key Terms

1. Aging out- the process of individuals reducing the frequency of their offending behavior as they age. 2. Career criminal- a person who repeatedly violates the law and organizes his or her lifestyle around criminality. 3. Chivalry hypothesis- the idea that low female crime and delinquency rates are a reflection of the leniency with which police treat female offenders. 4. Chronic offender- a delinquent offender who is arrested five or more time before he or she is 18 stands a good chance of becoming an adult criminal. 5. Cleared crimes- crimes are cleared in two ways; when at least one person is arrested, charged, and turned over to court for prosecution; or by exceptional means, when some element beyond police control precludes the physical arrest of an offender. 6. Cohort- a sample of subjects whose behavior is followed over a period of time. 7. Continuity of crime- the view that crime begins early in life and continues throughout the life course. 8. Cross-sectional survey- survey data derived from all age, race, gender, and income segments of the population measured simultaneously. 9. Early onset- a term that refers to the assumption that a criminal career begins early in life and that people who are deviant at a very young age are the ones most likely to persist in crime. 10. Expressive crimes- crimes that have no purpose except to accomplish the behavior at hand, such as shooting someone. 11. Index crimes- The eight most serious and frequent crimes that the FBI reports the incidence of in the UCR. 12. Instrumental crimes- offenses designed to improve the financial or social position of the criminal.

13. Liberal feminist theory- theory suggesting that the traditionally lower crime rate for women can be explained by their second-class economic and social position. 14. Masculinity hypothesis- the view that women who commit crimes have biological and psychological traits similar to those of men. 15. Meta-analysis- a research technique that uses grouped data from several different studies. 16. National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)- the ongoing victimization study conducted jointly by the Justice Department and the US Census Bureau that surveys victims about their experiences with law violation. 17. National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS)- a program that requires local police agencies to provide a brief account of each incident within 22 crime patterns, including incident, victim, and offender information. 18. Part I Crimes- another term for the eight most serious and frequent crimes. 19. Part II Crimes- all crimes other than index and minor traffic offenses. 20. Persistence- the idea that those who started their delinquent careers early and who committed serious violent cries throughout adolescence are the most likely to persist as adults. 21. Population- all people who share a particular personal characteristic, such as all high school students or all police officers. 22. Racial profiling- selecting suspects on the basis of their ethnic or racial background. 23. Racial threat hypothesis- the belief that as the percentage of minorities in the population increases, so too does the amount of social control that police direct at minority group members. 24. Retrospective cohort study- a study that uses an intact cohort of known offenders and looks back into their early life experiences by checking their educational, family, police, and hospital records. 25. Sampling- selecting a limited number of people for study as representative of a larger group. 26. Self-report survey- a research approach that requires subjects to reveal their own participation in delinquent or criminal acts.

27. Systematic review- a research technique that involves collecting the finding from previously conducted studies, appraising and synthesizing the the evidence, and using the collective evidence to address a particular scientific question. 28. Three strikes- policies whereby people convicted of three felony offenses receive a mandatory life sentence. 29. Uniform Crime Report (UCR)- a large data base compiled by the FBI, of crimes reported and arrests made each year throughout the US. Review Questions 1. Comprehensively explain each of the following: main sources of crime data a. Uniform Crime Report- a large data base compiled by the FBI, of crimes reported

and arrests made each year throughout the US. b. National-Incident based Reporting System- a program that requires local police

agencies to provide a brief account of each incident within 22 crime patterns, including incident, victim, and offender information. c. National Crime Victimization Survey- the ongoing victimization study conducted jointly by the Justice Department and the US Census Bureau that surveys victims about their experiences with law violation. d. Self-Report Studies - a research approach that requires subjects to reveal their own participation in delinquent or criminal acts. 2. Explain each of the following types of secondary data: a. Cohort research- observing a group of people who share a like characteristic over time. b. Experimental research- conducting controlled experiments to collect data on the cause of crime. c. Observational and interview research- interviewing subject in depth or observing them as they go about their activities. d. Mata-Analysis and Systematic Review- gathering data from a number of previous studies. e. Data Mining- uses advanced computational methods to analyze large data sets using involving one or more data sources. f. Crime Mapping- graphic representations of spatial geography of crime. 3. Explain the following crime trends: a. Official crime trends- rate of violent and property crimes has declined significantly during past 2 decades. b. Trends in self-reporting-more stable than UCR and NCVS indicate. c. International crime trends- Developed countries have lowest crime rate. 4. Explain the following crime patterns: a. Ecology of crime-assessing how crime rates reflect different ecological conditions. i. Climate- crime rates are highest during warm summer months. ii. Temperature- temperature swings have an impact on crime rate.

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f. g. h. i. j.

iii. Regional differences- metropolitan areas are more prone to crime than suburban areas. Use of firearms- availability of firearms influences crime rate. Social class- crime is more prevalent among lower class. i. Class-crime association- neighborhoods experiencing inequality and resource deprivation have higher crime rates. ii. Crime and unemployment- some research links unemployment to higher crime rates and some research is conflicting. Age and crime- younger people commit more crime than older people. Gender and crime- male crime rates are much higher than female crime rates. i. Explaining gender differences- criminologists blame emotional, physical, and psychological differences between men and women to explain differences in crime rates. ii. Socialization and development- girls are socialized to be less aggressive than males. iii. Cognitive differences- differences in cognitive abilities impact antisocial behaviors. iv. Feminist views- women’s “second-class” economic positions is to blame for difference in gender crime rates. Race and crime- minorities more likely to commit crime. Cultural bias- black violence rates are much lower in other countries. Economic and social disparity- minorities are often forced to live in high-crime areas. Immigration and crime- immigrants are far less likely to commit crime than US natives. Chronic offenders- a small group of criminal offenders account for a majority of all crime offenses.

Critical Thinking Questions 1. Would you answer honestly if a national crime survey asked you about your criminal behavior, including drinking and drug use? If not, why not? If you would not answer honestly, do you question the accuracy of self-report surveys? I would answer honestly because the survey is anonymous and I wouldn’t get in trouble with the law. 2. How would you explain gender differences in the crime rate? Why do you think males are more violent than females? I think males are more violent than females because it is socially acceptable for them to be aggressive and they are exposed to aggressive activities at a young age.

3. Assuming that males are more violent than females, does that mean crime has a biological rather than a social basis (because males and females share a similar environment)?

I believe that crime has mostly social basis because men are socially exposed to violence and expected to act aggressively in order to be considered masculine. 4. The UCR reports that crime rates are higher in large cities than in small towns. What does that tell us about the effects of violent TV and films and rap music on teenage behavior? I don’t believe that media influences criminal behavior significantly. I believe that this is something politicians blame so that they don’t have to admit that racism and inequality exist. 5. What social and environmental factors do you believe influence the crime rate? Do you think a national emergency would increase or decrease crime?

Racism and oppression more than anything in this country influences the crime rate. I believe a national emergency would erupt in criminal activity because people would do whatever they needed to do to survive.

Unit 1: Chapter 3 Criminology Key Terms

1. Active precipitation- the view that the source of many criminal incidents is the aggressive or provocative behavior of the victims. 2. Capable guardians- effective deterrents to crime, such as police or watchful neighbors. 3. Chronic victimization- those who have been crime victims maintain a significantly higher chance of future victimization than people who have remained nonvictims. 4. Crisis intervention 5. Cycle of violence- the idea that victims of crime, especially childhood abuse, are more likely to commit crimes themselves. 6. Deviant place theory- people become victims because they reside in socially disorganized, high-crime areas where they have the greatest risk of coming into contact with criminal offenders. 7. Elder abuse- a disturbing form of domestic violence by children and other relatives whom with elderly people live. 8. Lifestyle theory- people may become crime victims because their lifestyle increases their exposure to criminal offenders. 9. Motivated offenders- the potential offenders in a population. 10. Obsessive-compulsive disorder- an extreme preoccupation with certain thoughts and compulsive performance of certain behaviors. 11. Passive precipitation- the view that some people become victims because of personal and social characteristics that make them active targets for predatory criminals. 12. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)- Psychological reaction to a highly stressful event. 13. Restitution agreements 14. Routine activities theory- the view that the volume and distribution of predatory crime are closely related to the interaction of suitable targets, motivated offenders, and capable guardians.

15. Suitable target- according to routine activities theory, a target for crime that is relatively valuable, easily transportable, and not capably guarded. 16. Target hardening 17. Victim compensation- the victim ordinarily receives compensation from the state to pay for damages associated with the crime. 18. Victim precipitation theory- the idea that victim’s behavior was the spark that ignited subsequent offense, such as when the victim abused the offender verbally or physically. 19. Victimization (by the justice system)- police interrogation that is handled callously with innuendos that they were somehow at fault. 20. Victimologists- people who study the victim’s role in criminal transactions. 21. Victim-witness assistance programs- government programs that help crime victims and witnesses. Review Questions 1. Describe each of the following problems that crime victims face: a. Economic costs- when the cost of goods taken during property crimes is added to productivity losses cause by injury, pain, and emotional trauma, the cost of victimization is estimated to be in the hundreds of billions of dollars. b. Individual costs- victims may suffer long-term losses in earnings and occupational attainment. 2.Explain the cycle of violence: the idea that victims of crime, especially childhood abuse, are

more likely to commit crimes themselves. 3. List and explain the four concepts in the link between victimization and crime. 

Victimization causes social problems: people who are crime victims experience long-term negative consequences.

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Victimization causes stress and anger: victimization may produce anger, stress, and strain.

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Victimization prompts revenge: victims may seek revenge against the people who harmed them or whom they believe are at fault for their problems.

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Spurious and or nonlinear relationship: while some victims engage in antisocial behaviors, others do not.

4. Describe each of the following categories of the nature of victimization:

a. Social ecology- violent victimization is more likely to happen in an open, public area. b. Victims household- larger homes, African American homes, urban home, and those in the West are the most vulnerable to crime. c. Victim characteristics- teen males are at greater victimization risk. d. Victims and their criminals- males are more likely to be victimized by a stranger and females are more likely to be victimized by someone they know. 5. Explain the three types of repeat victimization. 

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