CCJS 451 Midterm| Ques ons and
answers|Updated|2026
What does preven ng crime mean?
Crime preven on is the a empt to reduce and deter crime and criminals. It is applied
specifically to efforts made by governments to reduce crime, enforce the law, and maintain
criminal jus ce. It means reducing crime by looking at the WHOLE problem and a acking it at
the primary, secondary, and ter ary level.
**Remember crime preven on doesn't mean crime elimina on.
Primary Preven on
Concerned with preven ng problems before they actually happen among the GENERAL
POPULATION
e.g., increasing minimum wage, making college affordable, free daycare for everyone
Secondary Preven on
Focuses on preven ng an exis ng problems from con nuing and ge3ng worse
- Policies targeted to specific groups that aren't targeted yet; AT-RISK POPULATIONS
e.g., programs (like mentoring) aimed at people in lower SES to teach them not to commit
crimes like robbery, bringing incen ves for businesses to open in the areas
Ter ary Preven on
Focuses on preven ng an exis ng problem from causing other problems for people who are
ALREADY affected by problem
e.g., pu3ng a robber in prison or some other type of correc onal/treatment program; stops
them from commi3ng further robberies.
What should the three different forms of preven on not be confused with?
Situa onal Crime Preven on
CCTV, security guards, defensible space, street ligh ng (Based on ra onal choice theory ).
Includes:
1. capable guardians (i.e., police, security guards),
2. suitable targets (i.e., unguarded homes or cars),
3. mo vated offenders (i.e., teenage males, gang members)
*class is about how we turn theory into prac ce
,America's Excep onalism-How are we excep onal?
The most puni ve AND the most crime-ridden country in the world
*There are 2.2 million people in prison and jail (716 per 1,000)!
*That means, 1 in 100 are incarcerated.
Recent trends and correlates for crime in the U.S.
1. Overall crime has declined in last 20 years (1990s-present). -In fact, it has been at its lowest
levels since the 1970s.
2. UCR 2010- 404 (4.8 is murder rate) per 100,000
3. NCVS 2010- 540, excluding homicide
Good news:
Imprisonment rates HAVE dropped lately:
- Especially for juveniles
-Marriage is a protec ve factor
Why should we be wary about the apparent drop in crime? (2 reasons)
1. Na onwide measures "mask" violent crime concentra on
Homicide in the city-
Flint, MI:50
Gary, IN: 65
Li le Chester, PA: 70
Bal more: 34.8
New Orleans: 49
E St. Louis, Missouri: 78
Forest Park, GA: 93
-Point: these rates are much higher than the na onal average
-Crime flourishes when the condi ons of life are sub-par (i.e., unemployment, racial
disadvantages)
-Crime rate is not widespread, it's concentrated in certain disadvantaged neighborhoods
-e.g., Sandtown is 97% AA and has higher poverty (almost 31%), imprisonment, unemployment,
juvenile arrest, teen birth, and infant mortality rates than the na onal average. Also, life
expectancy rates are low.
2. It's all rela ve across countries
**Our homicide rate is higher than most westernized, industrial na ons
Are we more puni ve because we have more crime?
We DO have more violent crime
• Part of the reason why
, - We are tougher with non-serious crime
• More punishments, longer punishments; more returns (recidivism)
Why are incarcera on rates higher in the U.S. than in other developed countries?
If other countries had the same number of crimes happening as the US, they would have more
people in their prisons and jails. We are different based on how we respond to non-violent
crimes.
What are recent imprisonment rates for minori es and women?
There is a dispropor onate amount of minori es (over 60%) in prison
-Black men are 6 mes more likely to be imprisoned than white men
-Pace for La no men is expanding (2 mes in comparison to whites)
-Women being incarcerated is also increasing (African American are overrepresented in prison).
Life me Likelihood of Imprisonment
1. Black men: 1 in 3
2. La no men: 1 in 6
3. White men: 1 in 17
4. All men: 1 in 9
5. Black women: 1 in 18
6. Black men in prison ages 20-34: 1 in 9
What are the hidden consequences of our large imprisonment rates?
1. Employment
2. Removal of key services and opportuni es
3. Health consequences
4. Undermining of deterrence poten al
5. Dismantling AA inner city communi es
6. Fewer marriageable men; More sexual bargaining power
7. Breakdown of informal social controls
8. Fatherless and motherless children
9. Reduc on of black poli cal influence (i.e., Florida has most disenfranchisement among
Blacks-24% due to convic on, i.e. Gore vs. Bush)
Do dispari es reflect discrimina on, or reality?
Incarcera on rates depend on:
-Crime rates
-Criminal histories
answers|Updated|2026
What does preven ng crime mean?
Crime preven on is the a empt to reduce and deter crime and criminals. It is applied
specifically to efforts made by governments to reduce crime, enforce the law, and maintain
criminal jus ce. It means reducing crime by looking at the WHOLE problem and a acking it at
the primary, secondary, and ter ary level.
**Remember crime preven on doesn't mean crime elimina on.
Primary Preven on
Concerned with preven ng problems before they actually happen among the GENERAL
POPULATION
e.g., increasing minimum wage, making college affordable, free daycare for everyone
Secondary Preven on
Focuses on preven ng an exis ng problems from con nuing and ge3ng worse
- Policies targeted to specific groups that aren't targeted yet; AT-RISK POPULATIONS
e.g., programs (like mentoring) aimed at people in lower SES to teach them not to commit
crimes like robbery, bringing incen ves for businesses to open in the areas
Ter ary Preven on
Focuses on preven ng an exis ng problem from causing other problems for people who are
ALREADY affected by problem
e.g., pu3ng a robber in prison or some other type of correc onal/treatment program; stops
them from commi3ng further robberies.
What should the three different forms of preven on not be confused with?
Situa onal Crime Preven on
CCTV, security guards, defensible space, street ligh ng (Based on ra onal choice theory ).
Includes:
1. capable guardians (i.e., police, security guards),
2. suitable targets (i.e., unguarded homes or cars),
3. mo vated offenders (i.e., teenage males, gang members)
*class is about how we turn theory into prac ce
,America's Excep onalism-How are we excep onal?
The most puni ve AND the most crime-ridden country in the world
*There are 2.2 million people in prison and jail (716 per 1,000)!
*That means, 1 in 100 are incarcerated.
Recent trends and correlates for crime in the U.S.
1. Overall crime has declined in last 20 years (1990s-present). -In fact, it has been at its lowest
levels since the 1970s.
2. UCR 2010- 404 (4.8 is murder rate) per 100,000
3. NCVS 2010- 540, excluding homicide
Good news:
Imprisonment rates HAVE dropped lately:
- Especially for juveniles
-Marriage is a protec ve factor
Why should we be wary about the apparent drop in crime? (2 reasons)
1. Na onwide measures "mask" violent crime concentra on
Homicide in the city-
Flint, MI:50
Gary, IN: 65
Li le Chester, PA: 70
Bal more: 34.8
New Orleans: 49
E St. Louis, Missouri: 78
Forest Park, GA: 93
-Point: these rates are much higher than the na onal average
-Crime flourishes when the condi ons of life are sub-par (i.e., unemployment, racial
disadvantages)
-Crime rate is not widespread, it's concentrated in certain disadvantaged neighborhoods
-e.g., Sandtown is 97% AA and has higher poverty (almost 31%), imprisonment, unemployment,
juvenile arrest, teen birth, and infant mortality rates than the na onal average. Also, life
expectancy rates are low.
2. It's all rela ve across countries
**Our homicide rate is higher than most westernized, industrial na ons
Are we more puni ve because we have more crime?
We DO have more violent crime
• Part of the reason why
, - We are tougher with non-serious crime
• More punishments, longer punishments; more returns (recidivism)
Why are incarcera on rates higher in the U.S. than in other developed countries?
If other countries had the same number of crimes happening as the US, they would have more
people in their prisons and jails. We are different based on how we respond to non-violent
crimes.
What are recent imprisonment rates for minori es and women?
There is a dispropor onate amount of minori es (over 60%) in prison
-Black men are 6 mes more likely to be imprisoned than white men
-Pace for La no men is expanding (2 mes in comparison to whites)
-Women being incarcerated is also increasing (African American are overrepresented in prison).
Life me Likelihood of Imprisonment
1. Black men: 1 in 3
2. La no men: 1 in 6
3. White men: 1 in 17
4. All men: 1 in 9
5. Black women: 1 in 18
6. Black men in prison ages 20-34: 1 in 9
What are the hidden consequences of our large imprisonment rates?
1. Employment
2. Removal of key services and opportuni es
3. Health consequences
4. Undermining of deterrence poten al
5. Dismantling AA inner city communi es
6. Fewer marriageable men; More sexual bargaining power
7. Breakdown of informal social controls
8. Fatherless and motherless children
9. Reduc on of black poli cal influence (i.e., Florida has most disenfranchisement among
Blacks-24% due to convic on, i.e. Gore vs. Bush)
Do dispari es reflect discrimina on, or reality?
Incarcera on rates depend on:
-Crime rates
-Criminal histories
