Criminology
Unit 3
Nature, Extent, and Punishment
Arson
• The Criminal Act of setting fire to a property.
– Against the law because people can get killed and
property can get damaged.
• Criminologists study it because it shows them
somebody’s predisposition to murder.
– Son of Sam set over 1400 fires before he started
killing people.
McDonald Triad
Bruce Lee
• Very few serial killers use fire.
• Usually used as an indicator
• One of the most famous was
Bruce Lee. He started killing
with fires when he was 13.
Caught when he was 19 and
after 26 victims.
Battery
• Criminal Offense involving unlawful physical
contact.
• Not
• Can this offense put you in prison?
Assault
• An assault is a threat to cause bodily harm
coupled with the apparent ability to do so.
– Name some situations that may lead you to go to
jail.
– Can you go to jail for a Threat? A terroristic
threat?
Terroristic Threat
•
A person commits terroristic threats if he or she
threatens to commit any crime of violence:
•
With the intent to terrorize another;
•
With the intent of causing the evacuation of a building,
place of assembly, or facility of public transportation; or
•
In reckless disregard of the risk of causing such terror or
evacuation.
• Terroristic threats is a Class IIIA felony.
•
Third degree assault and the making of terroristic threats are
separate offenses for the purpose of double jeopardy. State v.
Winkler, 266 Neb. 155, 663 N.W.2d 102 (2003).
Computer Crimes
• Computer crimes/identity theft are the
most recent criminal offenses to be added
to the criminal codes. They broadly include
criminal acts that involve the use of
technology to commit a prohibited act.
These range from using others' credit cards
or stealing personal information for financial
gain to intentionally spreading viruses to
others' computers. This category of crime is
changing daily as law makers and law
enforcement officials try to keep up with
the changing technology.
Examples
• Child Pornography
– This includes sexting!!!
•
•
•
•
Identity Theft
Cyber Theft
Treason? (Snowden)
Hacking
– FBI: Hacker claimed to have taken over flight's
engine controls May 18, 2015.
• Murder/Manslaughter?
Computer Crimes and Murder?
• Causation refers to the concurrence of a
guilty mind and a criminal act may produce
or cause harm. A clearly identifiable cause
must be evident in a court of law.
Unprecedented felony charges this week against two young girls
in Florida accused of harassing a 12-year-old classmate so
relentlessly that she jumped to her death – suicide – from a
lonely industrial tower. The girls told Rebecca Ann Sedwick she
“should go kill herself.” Rebecca finally did. The cyber-bullying
messages went on even after her death. No remorse. Sheriff
Grady Judd of Polk County said it’s gone too far. He’s bringing in
the full weight of the law.
Embezzlement
• is the unlawful taking of property by
someone to whom it was entrusted. This
crime usually occurs in the workplace. A
bank teller or cashier who takes money
from a cash draw, or a stockbroker who
takes money he is supposed to invest are
guilty of embezzlement
Burglary
• originally was defined as breaking and
entering the dwelling of another during the
night with intent to commit a felony. Modern
laws have broadened the definition to
include the unauthorized entry into any
structure with the intent to commit a crime,
regardless of the time of day. Most states do
have stiffer penalties, however, for
burglaries committed at night, in inhabited
buildings
Larceny
• is the unlawful taking and carrying away
of the property of another with the
intent to permanently deprive the owner
of it. This crime can be considered either
a felony
Forgery
• is a crime in which a person falsely
makes or alters a writing or document
with intent to fraud.
Vandalism
• also known as malicious mischief, is the willful
destruction of or damage to the property of
another. This includes graffiti. Vandalism is
responsible for millions of dollars
Rape
• sexual intercourse without consent.
– No always means no without exception!!!!
• Aggravated rape is when a perpetrator uses
a weapon or some form of force to compel a
victim to have intercourse.
This is a felony
Statutory Rape
• is intercourse between an adult and a
minor. The rules which define adulthood and
minority status vary among the states. This
crime has traditionally been used to punish
males for having sexual relations with
underage females, but it also applies to
females having sexual relations with
underage males. This crime differs from
rape in that lack of consent is not an
element. This crime is based on the notion
that a minor is incapable of
Sexual Assault
• involves various degrees of sexual
contact. It can include rape in some
jurisdictions or sexual harassment,
fondling or groping. It does not have to
involve force. Both men and women can
be charged with this crime.
Homicide
• Homicide is the killing of one human
being by another. It is considered the
most serious of all acts. There are
several forms of criminal homicide:
• Murder is killing that is done with
malice. Malice means having the intent to
kill or seriously harm another or acting in
an extremely reckless manner, which
shows a lack of regard for human life.
Homicide Continued
• First degree murder is killing that is
premeditated (thought of before hand),
deliberate, and done with malice.
• Second degree murder is killing that is
done with malice, but without
premeditation or deliberation.
Intentional, but spontaneous killings that
are unplanned.
Felony Murder
• is killing that takes place during the
commission of certain felonies, such as
arson, rape, robbery or burglary. It is not
necessary to prove intent, since malice is
presumed because the murder occurred
during a felony. The punishment is usually
equivalent with first degree murder.
Voluntary Manslaughter
• is killing that otherwise would be murder,
but that occurs after the victim has done
something to the killer that would cause
a reasonable person to lose control.
Involuntary Manslaughter
• Involuntary Manslaughter is the killing
in which there is no intent to kill at all. It
is unintentional killing which results from
reckless conduct. An example would be if
someone was playing with a loaded gun
and shot a friend.
Negligent Homicide
• means causing death through criminal
negligence. Negligence is the failure to
exercise reasonable or ordinary care in a
situation, thereby causing harm to
another.