CRM 1300 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Victimless Crime, Actus Reus, Ruling Class

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Criminology
• Course: CRM 1300
• Professor: Steven Bittle

Document Summary

Crime is what is defined as such by the state. Deviant and crime can overlap, but they are not the same. Victimized: some people go to jail for minor offences and that leads to a life of crime. All societies need/have crime to learn what not to do. Lower class are more likely to commit crime. Acts defined as crime because they offend morals. Crime is a real problem that needs to be addressed. All societies have/need crime (right v. wrong) Interests of ruling class define crimes (crime is socially defined) Ruling class violate with impunity; lower class punished. Lower class more likely to be labelled criminal. Crime/law is created by powerful ruling class. Cri(cid:373)e is a rea(cid:272)tio(cid:374) to a perso(cid:374)(cid:859)s so(cid:272)ial (cid:272)o(cid:374)ditio(cid:374)s. Crime varies depending on political and economic structures. The four ele(cid:373)e(cid:374)ts of (cid:272)ri(cid:373)e are state defi(cid:374)ed, a(cid:272)tus reus (guilty act), mens rea (guilty mind) and capacity: crime as social inquiry.