Part 2: Crime & Capital Punishment

• Any act that’s labeled as such by those in authority, is prohibited by law, and is punishable by the government

• More likely if
– male
– white
– African Americans
– Under 25
– Warm weather
– Aggressive thoughts & behaviors
– In a large group

How the heck do we know all this?
• Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) by the FBI
• Certain limitations
– Not all complaints filed (especially with family and sexual assault cases)
– Police more likely to report if individual has bad attitude & from higher social class

• Murder, rape, robbery
• Very small % of all crimes committed

Robbery
Stealing
Armed
In presence of victim
Aggravated /Armed
Burglary Larceny
Breaking & Entering Usually doesn’t use force
Intent to steal
Doesn’t always cause damage
Motor vehicle theft
Purse-snatch, shoplifting, fraud, forgery, identity theft, embezzlement

• Prostitution, gambling, vagrancy,
• Harm no one but person committing act

• High social status
• Fraud, tax evasion, embezzlement, toxic pollution, political corruption
• Downplayed by public
/ press
• Most costly type

• Large-scale organization of professional criminals that control business through violence / threat of violence
• Drug trafficking, illegal gambling, unfair labor practices, etc.

• Have immediate control over whose arrested
• Police discretion – power to decide
• Considerations:
– Seriousness of offense
– Wishes of victim
– Attitude of suspect
– Bystanders present
– African Americans (racial profiling)

• Once arrested – courts have responsibility
• 3 parts
– Guilty or innocent
– Sane / Insane
– Punishment if guilty
• Plea Bargaining – plead guilty to lesser crime for lighter sentence

• Felonies – serious crimes (jail time, loss of voting privileges)
• Misdemeanors – less serious
• Homicide – killing of another human being
(the action)
– 2 types: murder & manslaughter

• Unlawful killing of another human being with intent or malice afterthought
• 1 st Degree – provoked, premeditated
• 2 nd Degree - homicide same time as felony
– Unplanned, but fully aware of actions

• Voluntary – Intent to kill but was provoked
– Mental disorder, self-defense gone too far
– “In the heat of passion”
• Involuntary
– Killing without malice, no intent, a terrible accident

• If found guilty – use sanctions
• 4 basic functions of corrections:
– Retribution – revenge for victim / society
– Deterrence – discourage from future crimes
– Rehab – return to society as law-abiding citizen
– Social Protection – prevent from committing more crimes

• Repeated criminal behavior
• 2/3 of released prisoners will be charged with new crimes

• Contemporary Idea – used to remain in custody way too long, vague laws
• Try to provide more services to rehab them
• Can be tried as adults for serious crimes