SOC 1500 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Mens Rea

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 1500
• Professor: Stephanie Howells

Document Summary

Definition of crime can be captured under two broadly based approaches: the objective- legalistic position or the social-reaction perspective. Referred to as value consensus or normative position. Definition of crime to be factual and precise. Criminal code of canada (crime against the person, property crime and offences that are considered wrong) Laws are widely shared customs and beliefs that codified into legal statuses. Question from viewpoint: what are the causes of criminal behaviour. Crime and crime control are considered to be objective phenomena. Administrative law: form of public law that governs the relationship between individuals and the state by regulating the activities of organizations dealing with the matters that result in penalties such as warnings or fines. Criminal law: punish certain acts that have been declared to be threats to the established social order. To be found guilty of a crime, individual must have committed an evil act (anus reus) and have an evil mind (mens rea)