forensics ; defining and measuring crime

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PROBLEMS IN DEFINING CRIME
DFGD
1 of 74
what is the legalistic definition of crime?
any act that breaks the law and warrans some form of punishmnet
2 of 74
this is complicated by what fact?
laws are often subject to change and ot all acts that break law are punished
3 of 74
researchers have pointed out that what couonts as crime varies which two ways?
culturally / temporally
4 of 74
- cultural issues in defining crime
dfgd
5 of 74
what is one big example of what may be considered criome in one culture but not other?
laws on marriage
6 of 74
in uk what is having two wives?
crime of bigamy
7 of 74
however not a crime in what cultures?
those where polygamy is practiced
8 of 74
what about uk forced marriage?
illegal in '14
9 of 74
but?
still practised in some cultures
10 of 74
- historical issues in defining crime
dgdfg
11 of 74
homosexuality considered crime until?
1967
12 of 74
but this is an example of a criminal act that may be specific in which tow ways?
culture and history
13 of 74
WAYS OF MEASURING CRIME
DGDFG
14 of 74
what are the three measures?
official statistics / victim surveys / offender surveys
15 of 74
- official statistics
dgd
16 of 74
gov records fo waht?
total number of crimes reprted to police and recorded in official figures
17 of 74
published by who?
home office
18 of 74
on what basis?
annual
19 of 74
and useful snapshot of what?
number crimes occurring cross coutnry / specific regions
20 of 74
this allows governemtn to do what?
develop crime prevention strategies and policing initiatives / direct resources to where most needed
21 of 74
- victim surveys
dfgd
22 of 74
record?
people's experiences of crim over specific period
23 of 74
crime servey for england and wales asks people to do what?
document crimes they've been victim of in past year
24 of 74
to compile figures how many households randomly selected to take part in this survey?
50k
25 of 74
and this has enabled who to produce crime figures base don this since '82?
Office for National Statistics
26 of 74
in 2009 separate survey introduced to record whose experiences?
younger people 1-15
27 of 74
and complete results from both published how often?
annually
28 of 74
- offender surveys
dgdg
29 of 74
involve individuals doing what?
volunteering details of number / types of crimes they committed
30 of 74
tese tend to target who?
groups of likely offenders based on 'risk' factors like previous convictions / age / socila background etc
31 of 74
what was the first national self-report survey of this kind in england and waleS?
offender crime and justice survey 2003-2006
32 of 74
awa measuring self-reported offending this OCJS looked also at indicators of?
repeat offending
33 of 74
as well as trneds in?
prevalence of offending
34 of 74
use of?
drugs / alcohol
35 of 74
the role of who?
co-offenders
36 of 74
and finally what relationship?
perp-victim relationship
37 of 74
EVALUATION
DGD
38 of 74
- official statistics
dfgdf
39 of 74
criticised as unreliable why?
significantly underestimate true extent of crime
40 of 74
some commentators sugg only what % offences included in official figures bc so much unreported?
25%
41 of 74
other 75% make up what criminologists refer to as?
'dark figure' of crime
42 of 74
crimes may not appear for many reasons but one of these is?
police recording rules
43 of 74
one study found what about police in nottinghamshire?
more likely thanothers to record thefts of under £10
44 of 74
and this explained what?
apparent 'spike' of thefts in th area
45 of 74
this suggests that what may distort official figures?
policing priorities
46 of 74
- victim surveys
dgdg
47 of 74
more likely to include details fo waht crimes?
those not reported to police
48 of 74
so thought to have greater degree of accuracy than?
official statistics
49 of 74
bc less likely to conceal?
dark figure of crime
50 of 74
as evidence 2006/7 official stats sugg what % decrease crime from prev year?
2%
51 of 74
while british crime survey showed what?
3% increase
52 of 74
that said victim surveys rely on respondents doi nwhat?
having accurate recall of crimes they've been victom of
53 of 74
'telescoping' may occur where?
victim may misremember event as happening in past year when didn't
54 of 74
which may do what?
distort figures
55 of 74
- offender surveys
dfgdg
56 of 74
main strength of this over others is that they provide insight into?
how many people responsible for certain offences
57 of 74
what is assured?
confidentiality
58 of 74
responses may be unreliable as offenders may want to do what?
conceal some of more serious crimes committed
59 of 74
or even exaggerate why?
bravado
60 of 74
finally targeted nature of survey means what?
certain types crime overrepresented
61 of 74
whereas what types of offences unlikely to eb included?
middle class offences like fraud and corporate crime
62 of 74
EVALUATION EXTRA
DFFG
63 of 74
- politics of measuring crime
dgdf
64 of 74
political parties have vested interest in doign what?
useing some measures over others when discussing rates of crime across country
65 of 74
political party in opposition will typically focus on which measures?
those that make the gov look bad and suggest crime is increasing
66 of 74
while party in power will do what?
emphasise measures showing its falling
67 of 74
crime stats in uk are compiled by who?
independent body free from political interference
68 of 74
but questions frequently raised as to their?
validity
69 of 74
usually by those?
with political motives
70 of 74
- multidisciplinary approach
dfgd
71 of 74
each method has particular issues with what?
reliability and validity
72 of 74
this means what for all crime figures?
should be carefully scritunised and interpreted with cauting
73 of 74
researchers advocate multidisciplinary approach when measuring crime which means?
cimbination of best insight into true extent of offending
74 of 74

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

what is the legalistic definition of crime?

Back

any act that breaks the law and warrans some form of punishmnet

Card 3

Front

this is complicated by what fact?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

researchers have pointed out that what couonts as crime varies which two ways?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

- cultural issues in defining crime

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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Comments

AdamBottom

Report

Why are most of the FDGD

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