CRIM 1650 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Victimless Crime, Plastic Surgery, Dependent And Independent Variables

• School: York University
• Department: Criminology
• Course: CRIM 1650
• Professor: James Williams

Document Summary

A crime is an act prohibited by those in positions of power as a means of protecting their own values and interests. 1- society is characterized by conflict rather than consensus. Divided into a number of groups with unequal positions. A political product, result of decision made by legislation include corporation, society who press the government to pass laws. 3- definition of criminal behaviour reflects the interests of the powerful. 1919 prohibition of alcohol which was legal before certain factors came into play. Concerns of alcohol consumption by the work force; scared of accidents and prudence. Money that was not spent on alcohol may be put towards other economic purchases of good and services. Alcohol was consumed in saloons which were mostly visited by union workers (communism and socialism was a threat) Alcohol seen as a source of tax revenue. Prohibition of alcohol undermined the legitimacy of law (police corruption and rebelling)