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CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR - Coggle Diagram
CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR
Social defintion
Sometimes crime is a label from 'social interaction' or a wrong against the community. If a society has said that an act is a crime, then it becomes one.
Crimes have consequences that are detrimental in some way to community at large or one or more people within it. However, some acts are crimes in some countries but not other, such as Bangladesh, where children must become child brides
Legal definition
In our society, it is the legal system that defines a crime. For example, behaviour that breaks the law and for which you are punished by the legal system.
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In law, a crime must have two elements, an actus reus, the guilty act, and a mens rea, meaning guilty mind
Even if both elements were present, a defence, such as self-defence could mean a person is found not guilty
Formal Sanctions
NON - court sanctions
- Cautions: are administered by the police for minor crimes such as writing graffiti. A caution is NOT a criminal conviction
- Conditional cautions: are given by the police, but the 'offender' has to agree to certain rules and restrictions, such as receiving treatment for drug abuse or repairing damage to a property
- Penalty notices: for disorder are given for offences such as shoplifting, possessing cannabis, or being drunk and disorderly in public. An 'offender' can ONLY get a penalty notice if they are 18 or over
Court sanctions
- Custodial sentences: are where you are immediately sent to prison. There are mandatory and discretionary life sentences and fixed term and indeterminate prison sentences
- Community sentences: can be a combination order, including unpaid work, probation, curfew and order such as having drug testing and treatment
- Fines: are financial penalties, the amount depends on the seriousness of the offence and the financial circumstances of the offender
- Discharge: can either be conditional, when if the defendant reoffends during a set time period, the court can give an alternative sentence, or absolute, when no penalty is imposed as the defendant is technically guilty but morally blameless
Variety of criminal acts
- Fatal offences against the person - murder, manslaughter
- NON - fatal offences against the person - Assault, battery, actual and grievous bodily harm
- Offences against property - Theft, robbery, burglary
- Sexual offences - Rape, indecent assault
- Public order offences - Riot, affray, violent disorder
- Drug offences - Possession of a controlled drug or possession with intent to supply