1.
What is the definition of a crime?
Something one does, or fails to do that is a violation of the law.
2.
Who decides what constitutes a crime?
Legislatures – which try to protect the public based on what MOST people believe is right, and necessary to promote order .
3.
Ideally, what are the goals of laws?
To protect human rights for all & to regulate human conduct so people may live in harmony .
4.
In 2001, U.S. residents over the age of 12 experienced nearly 24.2 million crimes about 24& in which were violent in nature.
5.
According to surveys of victims, about 50% reported crimes against themselves to the police. What is indicative about this number?
Answers will vary:
6.
What age group commits most of the violent crimes?
Ages 15-24
7.
What is the ratio of males committing crimes versus females committing crimes?
Males are 4X more likely to commit crimes
8.
What is the approximate government expenditure spent on crime?
$150 million per year
9.
An average family of four spends $1500 per year in taxes relating to crime.
10.
Although authorities agree that crime is a major problem, much disagreement exists over the causes of crime and what can be done about it. Your book discusses some possible causes of crime. Read each one thoroughly and write a brief summary for each one, be sure to include both sides of each argument a.
Economics: When economy is bad, crime usually increases… but not always . b.
Stiffer penalties: would stiffer penalties prevent crimes? (p.78) U.S currently has one of the toughest criminal systems and highest incarceration rate. Are longer prison sentences the answer? (Answers will vary) c.
Police protection
Does increasing authority or police protection reduce crime rates? Answers will vary.. Also, does this bring the police closer to the community? d.
Crime on campus
Main causes of crime seems to be related to drugs & alcohol.
11.
Summarize the National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD) strategies for reducing crime.
(P.80) Build a safer community, reduce costs, and improve criminal justice system, develop alternatives to incarceration, expand funding for drug treatments.
12.
What percentage of 12-18 year olds reported that street gangs were present at school? 20%
13.
Prove that gangs are NOT a recent phenomenon; make sure you include the brief history of gangs that your book discusses.
19 th century gangs existed nationwide. Answers here will vary .
14.
What are gangs, who joins them and why?
Gangs: people who form groups closed to the general public, for a certain purpose that may include violent activity. Most people join gans to be a part of something – they have unmet needs that are somehow fulfilled by being in a gang.
15.
Page 84 discusses some suggestion on solving the Gang problem. Which ones do you feel would work and would not work, why? Are there some ideas you have that are not mentioned in the book? What are they?
Answers will vary:
16.
Guns and the Law In your opinion why is gun control such a controversial or a “hot button” topic?
Because people interpret the law and the 2 nd amendment differently. Some people believe that it is outdated

17.
What has the U.S. Supreme Court ruled regarding the Second Amendment? (Use the updated information provided in class—not the outdated information from your book.)
2008: District of Colombia vs. Heller – 1 st decision since 1939 that the 2 nd amendment says that an individual has the right to bear arms for traditional reason such as self -defense.
18.
A well-rounded open-minded FHS student may argue that indeed the U.S. has some form of gun control. Please read pages 86-87 and summarize each of the following. Please cite the reasons the laws were passed, the provisions of the law and your opinion of each. a.
Gun Control Act of 1968 b.
The Brady Act c.
State and local gun laws
19.
What is substance abuse? Alcohol and drug abuse .
20.
What is the annual cost substance abuse in American society? $150 billion
21. What does the legal definition of DWI/DUI refer to? It refers to a person’s BAC (blood alcohol level) Driving while intoxicated,
Driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol
22. In referring to a persons BAC, what is the difference between impaired and intoxicated? ( Note: The vast majority of states have lowered the BAC level for DWI/DUI to .08 from .10).
Impaired is between .01g/dl -.09g/dl and intoxicated is .10 g/dl and up. NOTE: for people age 21& up - .02 for impaired and
23.What are some of the penalties a person can receive if they are convicted of driving under the influence?
Fines, DWI school, community service, license suspended, license revoked, and jail are a few.
24. If a state has an implied consent law in effect, what may happen if they refuse a BAC test?
Results in immediate and automatic suspension of license even in for intoxicated .
25. Why are young people at a greater risk in alcohol-related accidents?
Teens are affected by alcohol faster, and they are less experienced drivers.
26. What percentage of persons taken into the criminal justice system test positive for drugs at the time of their arrest? Between 50-
75%
27. What may be one factor in reducing the amount of crack cocaine use, and in Montana the use of Meth?
Peer Pressure
28. Under federal law what type of sentence may a drug trafficker receive?
29. What are recidivist laws, and what do the critics of such laws argue?
30. What is restitution?
A process of requiring criminals to pay back or somehow compensate the victims of their crimes.