social definition
what society believes is wrong within a community. for example, moat people in the UK would think it is wrong to have sex with a
... [Show More] 14-year old, but in other cultures in different countries it might not be seen as a problem because society doesn't label it as one.
legal definition
in our society, it is the legal system which defines crime. for example behaviour that breaks the law and for which you are punished by the legal system.
actus reus
latin for guilty act. essentially means committing a crime.
mens rea
latin for guilt mind. essentially means having a motive to commit the crime.
cautions
administered by the police for minor crimes such as writing graffiti on a bus shelter. you have to admit an offence and agree to be cautioned; otherwise you could be arrested for the offence. a caution is not a criminal conviction.
conditional cautions
given by the police but you have to agree to certain rules and restrictions, such as receiving treatment for drug abuse or repairing damage to a property.
penalty notices
given for offences such as shoplifting, possessing cannabis, or being drunk and disorderly in public. you can only get a penalty notice of you are ages 18 or over.
custodial sentences
where you are immediately sent to prison. there are mandatory and discretionary life sentences and fixed term and indeterminate prison sentences.
community services
a combination order (sentence of the court that combines a probation order and a community service order) including unpaid work, probation, curfew and orders such as having drug testing and treatment.
fines
financial penalties; the amount depends on the seriousness of the offence and the financial circumstances of the offender.
discharge
either conditional, when if the defendant re-offends 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.
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 the intent to supply.
deviance
behaviour that goes against the dominant social norms of a specific group or society, which causes some kind of critical reaction or disapproval.
norms
social expectations that guide behaviour and explain why people act in the way that they do. norms keep in check deviant behaviour. while it is expected behaviour, it could vary form one culture to another. for instance, in the UK we wear dark sombre colours for a funeral but in China the colour of mourning is white. [Show Less]