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CRM 1300 Introduction to Criminology all Lecture notes (exam tips) University of Ottawa
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CRM 1300 Introduction to Criminology all Lecture notes (exam tips) University of Ottawa
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CRM 1300 Introduction to Criminologyall Lecture notes (exam tips) University
of Ottawa
CRM 1300 Introduction to Criminology all Lecture notes (exam tips) University of Ottawa
Lecture 1: INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY
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WHO IS A CRIMINAL?
What do you think of when you hear the word “crime”?
● Stealing
● Illegal acts
● Acts against society
● Punishment of crimes in different cultures
What is your image of a criminal?
● Sketchy
● Self-centred
Why do you think we study crime?
● Why people commit crimes
● Prevention
● The brain of a criminal
● How crime effects society
● The difference between wrong and right in different societies
● Effects on everyone
1. OUR FASCINATION WITH CRIME Why
do we study crime?
Crime as a “Public Issue” (C. Wright Mills)
● Crime affects everyone
Crime as a sociological problem (Beirne & Messerschmidt)
● Crime is an act that goes against societal norms
Expansion of the field: The CSI effect
● Media has made crime into an obsession
The fame of crime & criminals: A modern obsession?
● Because of the CSI effect
OUR OBSESSION WITH CRIME:
Images of violent crime dominate:
● Do not happen often
● CSI effect
● Plays into fears
Crime reflects the public culture:
● How society responds to crime
● Example: marijuana becoming legal
Crime and media
● Dominated media messages of crime
● Distorted images of crime Crime
myths/distorted images of crime
● More people are in jail for petty crimes than violent crimes
Our neighbours to the south
● We share some cultural elements
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● They have harsher punishments
3. CRIME AS A SOCIAL CONSTRUCT:
Crime is a product of time, society, powerful people views A
range of criminality in society
● Some violent crimes punish harshly and others similar violent crimes do not punish as
harshly
Most of us violate the law
● Not all are violent
● Example: J-walking
Hard to distinguish between criminals & non-criminals
● It is a myth that you can differentiate the look of a criminal
● In history, Criminologist used to try to find ways to identify criminals
Crime varies across time and space
● There are always crimes on how to handle crime
● Decisions are made by the criminal justice system
● Laws and punishments have changed over history
○ Example: marijuana laws
● In different geographical spaces laws and punishments are different
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Lecture 2: WHAT IS A CRIME? WHO IS A CRIMINAL? WE ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER, RIGHT?
1. Criminology and definitional issues:
What is a crime?
● An action against the law that is defined and implemented by the state
What is deviance?
● An action against societal norms and beliefs
● Not breaking the laws
Role of the state in determining crime
● Specifying what laws are legal and illegal
● Must enforce the laws
● Maintain the image of violence
Selective nature of criminal definitions
● A product of culture, time, countries
The dark figure of crime
● A lot of crime goes undetected and unreported
● Up to state officials which laws to enforce
○ Police may let someone go even if they have possession of marijuana
Crimes not just about legislation
● Who host of influences to see is a behaviour is breaking a law
“Mala in se”
● Intent, evil, seriously wrong
○ murder
“mala prohibita”
● Not evil, act regualted by law
● Some criminologist don't believe there should be a focus on mala prohibita
● Very controveral
○ Corporate crimes
Victimless Crimes?
● Gambling, drug use
Heroic Crimes?
● Vigilantism is controversal
● Not supposed to take the law into your own hands
Some criminals as victims?
● Cycle of violence
○ Victimized early in life later become the abuser
● Unequal society
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