Chapter 4, Crime and Violence

1. Chapter 4, Crime and Violence • The Global Context: International Crime and Violence • Sources of Crime Statistics • Sociological Theories of Crime and Violence

2. Chapter 4, Crime and Violence • Types of Crime • Demographic Patterns of Crime • Costs of Crime and Violence • Strategies For Action: Responding To Crime And Violence

3. Crime Throughout the World Similarities: • There is no country without crime. • Adult males comprise the largest category of crime suspects. • Theft is most common crime worldwide.

4. Crime Throughout the World Differences: • Industrialized countries have higher rates of crime. • Arabs have lowest crime rates in the world. • U.S. homicide rate is 4 times higher than Western Europe’s, 6 times higher than Great Britain's, and 7 times higher than Japan’s.

5. Examples of Transnational Crimes • Russian ruble, precious metals, arms are smuggled out of the country. • Chinese Triads operate rings of prostitution, drugs, and other organized crime. • Children are trafficked through Canada and Mexico for child pornography.

6. Major Types of Crime Statistics • Official statistics • Victimization surveys • Self-report offender surveys

7. Problems With Official Statistics • Many crimes are not reported. • Some reported crimes are not recorded by police. • Some rates may be exaggerated.

8. Structural-Functionalist Theories • Strain theory • Control theory • Subcultural theories

9. Strain Theory • People adapt to inconsistency between means and goals in society. • Methods of adaptation: conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism and rebellion.

10. Control Theory Social bonds constrain some individuals from violating social norms: • Attachment to significant others. • Commitment to conventional goals. • Involvement in conventional activities. • Belief in the moral standards of society.

11. Subcultural Theories • Certain groups or subcultures in society have values and attitudes conducive to violence. • Members of these subcultures adopt the crime-promoting attitudes of the group.

12. Conflict Perspective • Social inequality leads to crimes as means of economic survival. • Those in power define what is criminal. • Law enforcement penalizes those without power and benefits those with power.

13. Symbolic Interactionist Perspective Labeling Theory Being labeled deviant leads to further deviant behavior: • The labeled person is denied opportunities to engage in nondeviant behavior. • The labeled person adopts a deviant self-concept and acts accordingly.

14. Types Of Crime • Index crimes • Vice crime • Organized crime • White-collar crime • Computer crime • Juvenile delinquency

15. Homicide Aggravated assault Rape Robbery Burglary Arson Motor vehicle theft Larceny  Index Crimes

16. White Collar Crime • Occupational - individuals commit crimes in the course of their employment. • Corporate - corporations violate law to maximize profit.

17. Computer Crime • One of the fastest growing crimes in U.S. • Hacking - unauthorized computer intrusion. • Identity theft - stealing of someone else’s identification to obtain credit.

18. Demographics and Crime • Men are more likely to commit violent crimes than women. • Highest arrest rates involve individuals under age 25. • If current trends continue, by 2020, 2 in 3 black males ages 18 to 34 will be in prison.