CRIMINOLOGY CHAPTERS 1-6 Q & A
mandatory sentences
A statutory requirement that a certain penalty shall be carried out in all cases of
conviction for a specified offense or series of offenses.
misdemeanor
A minor crime usually punished by a short jail term and/or a fine.
Mosaic Code
The laws of the ancient Israelites, found in the Old Testament of the Judeo-Christian
Bible.
penology
Subarea of criminology that focuses on the correction and control of criminal offenders.
positivism
The branch of social science that uses the scientific method of the natural sciences and
suggests that human behavior is a product of social, biological, psychological, or
economic forces.
precedent
A rule derived from previous judicial decisions and applied to future cases; the basis of
common law.
rational choice theory (choice theory)
The view that crime is a function of a decision-making process in which the potential
offender weighs the potential costs and benefits of an illegal act.
rehabilitation
Treatment of criminal offenders that is aimed at preventing future criminal behavior.
reliable measure
A measure that produces consistent results from one measurement to another.
scientific method
The use of verifiable principles and procedures for the systematic acquisition of
knowledge. Typically involves formulating a problem, creating hypotheses, and
collecting data, through observation and experiment, to verify the hypotheses.
social process theory
The view that criminality is a function of people's interactions with various organizations,
institutions, and processes in society.
social structure theory
The view that disadvantaged economic class position is a primary cause of crime.
socialization
Process of human development and enculturation. Socialization is influenced by key
social processes and institutions.
sociological criminology
Approach to criminology, based on the work of Quetelet and Durkheim, that focuses on
the relationship between social factors and crime.
statutory crimes
Crimes defined by legislative bodies in response to changing social conditions, public
opinion, and custom.
trait theory
The view that criminality is a product of abnormal biological or psychological traits.
, utilitarianism
The view that people's behavior is motivated by the pursuit of pleasure and the
avoidance of pain.
valid measure
A measure that actually measures what it purports to measure; a measure that is
factual.
victimology
The study of the victim's role in criminal events.
white-collar crime
Illegal activities of people and institutions whose acknowledged purpose is profit through
legitimate business transactions. White-collar crimes can involve theft, embezzlement,
fraud, market manipulation, restraint of trade, and false advertising.
aging out
Phrase used to express the fact that people commit less crime as they mature.
chronic offenders (career criminals)
The small group of persistent offenders who account for a majority of all criminal
offenses.
cleared crimes
Crimes are considered cleared when at least one person is arrested, charged, and
turned over to the court for prosecution or when some element beyond police control
(such as the offender having left the country) precludes the physical arrest of an
offender.
cohort
A group of individuals that have a shared experience over time
early onset
The view that repeat offenders begin their criminal careers at a very young age.
expressive crimes
Offenses committed not for profit or gain but to vent rage, anger, or frustration.
instrumental crimes
Offenses designed to improve the financial or social position of the criminal.
liberal feminist theory
A view of crime that suggests that the social and economic role of women in society
controls their crime rates.
masculinity hypothesis
The view that women who commit crimes have biological and psychological traits
similar to those of men.
Meta-analysis
A procedure for statistically combining the results of many different research studies
National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)
The ongoing victimization study conducted jointly by the Justice Department and the
U.S. Census Bureau that surveys victims about their experiences with law violation.
National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS)
Program that requires local police agencies to provide a brief account of each incident
and arrest within 22 crime patterns, including incident, victim, and offender information.
neurotransmitter
mandatory sentences
A statutory requirement that a certain penalty shall be carried out in all cases of
conviction for a specified offense or series of offenses.
misdemeanor
A minor crime usually punished by a short jail term and/or a fine.
Mosaic Code
The laws of the ancient Israelites, found in the Old Testament of the Judeo-Christian
Bible.
penology
Subarea of criminology that focuses on the correction and control of criminal offenders.
positivism
The branch of social science that uses the scientific method of the natural sciences and
suggests that human behavior is a product of social, biological, psychological, or
economic forces.
precedent
A rule derived from previous judicial decisions and applied to future cases; the basis of
common law.
rational choice theory (choice theory)
The view that crime is a function of a decision-making process in which the potential
offender weighs the potential costs and benefits of an illegal act.
rehabilitation
Treatment of criminal offenders that is aimed at preventing future criminal behavior.
reliable measure
A measure that produces consistent results from one measurement to another.
scientific method
The use of verifiable principles and procedures for the systematic acquisition of
knowledge. Typically involves formulating a problem, creating hypotheses, and
collecting data, through observation and experiment, to verify the hypotheses.
social process theory
The view that criminality is a function of people's interactions with various organizations,
institutions, and processes in society.
social structure theory
The view that disadvantaged economic class position is a primary cause of crime.
socialization
Process of human development and enculturation. Socialization is influenced by key
social processes and institutions.
sociological criminology
Approach to criminology, based on the work of Quetelet and Durkheim, that focuses on
the relationship between social factors and crime.
statutory crimes
Crimes defined by legislative bodies in response to changing social conditions, public
opinion, and custom.
trait theory
The view that criminality is a product of abnormal biological or psychological traits.
, utilitarianism
The view that people's behavior is motivated by the pursuit of pleasure and the
avoidance of pain.
valid measure
A measure that actually measures what it purports to measure; a measure that is
factual.
victimology
The study of the victim's role in criminal events.
white-collar crime
Illegal activities of people and institutions whose acknowledged purpose is profit through
legitimate business transactions. White-collar crimes can involve theft, embezzlement,
fraud, market manipulation, restraint of trade, and false advertising.
aging out
Phrase used to express the fact that people commit less crime as they mature.
chronic offenders (career criminals)
The small group of persistent offenders who account for a majority of all criminal
offenses.
cleared crimes
Crimes are considered cleared when at least one person is arrested, charged, and
turned over to the court for prosecution or when some element beyond police control
(such as the offender having left the country) precludes the physical arrest of an
offender.
cohort
A group of individuals that have a shared experience over time
early onset
The view that repeat offenders begin their criminal careers at a very young age.
expressive crimes
Offenses committed not for profit or gain but to vent rage, anger, or frustration.
instrumental crimes
Offenses designed to improve the financial or social position of the criminal.
liberal feminist theory
A view of crime that suggests that the social and economic role of women in society
controls their crime rates.
masculinity hypothesis
The view that women who commit crimes have biological and psychological traits
similar to those of men.
Meta-analysis
A procedure for statistically combining the results of many different research studies
National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)
The ongoing victimization study conducted jointly by the Justice Department and the
U.S. Census Bureau that surveys victims about their experiences with law violation.
National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS)
Program that requires local police agencies to provide a brief account of each incident
and arrest within 22 crime patterns, including incident, victim, and offender information.
neurotransmitter
