CRJS 1003 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Victimology, Criminal Negligence, Edwin Sutherland
12 Sep 2016
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Document Summary
What is crime: criminal law is reserved for wrongful acts that seriously threaten the social values of. Canadians: crime largely defines a society because it mediates the powerful forces of security, morality and control, criminal law is not static because as social attitudes change, our definitions of crime are constantly refashioned in response. Crime: focus on violation of a criminal law. No act can be considered criminal until a duly appointed representative of the criminal court (a judge or jury) has established the guilt of an offender and attached a punishment to that determination. Consequences of the definitions of crime: without the criminal law there would be no crime. No behaviour can be considered criminal unless a formal action exists to prohibit it: no behaviour or individual can be considered criminal until formally decided upon by the criminal justice system.
