Social Deviance
Chapter 6: Nonviolent Crimes
Chapter Goals
Be able to explain different types of nonviolent crime Understand dynamics of occasional offending Know what conventional offending involves Understand the complexities of political and organizational crimes Familiarize yourself with the idea of a "professional criminal"
Occasional Property Offenders
Occasional offenders try to rationalize their offenses to convince themselves that they have not committed criminal acts Occasional property offenders may consist of illegal joyriding, check forgery, shoplifting employee theft, or vandalism This criminal behavior is typically infrequent and occurs when situations are favorable Auto Theft: The taking of another individual's vehicle with the intent to keep it or its parts Check Forgeries Committed by offenders with no previous pattern in such behavior Offenders generally do not come from areas of high delinquency, have clean criminal records, no contact with delinquents and criminals Shoplifting and Employee Theft: Closely related crimes, sometimes combined into a broader category labeled inventory shrinkage Denotes a business's loss of merchandise from illegal activities as well as honest. unintentional mistakes such as bookkeeping errors Employee theft: when an employee uses their store discount for a family member or friend to use on their purchase Vandalism A crime of juvenile offenders who generally target similar property such as schools and their contents Public properties such as park equipment, road signs, fountains, cars, vacant houses, and other buildings
Conventional Criminals
Serious criminals who have progressed from violence and theft as juveniles into more serious adult criminal behavior It is not uncommon for conventional offenders to begin their criminal life as juveniles in youth gangs Common characteristics among those who commit robbery or burglary are often younger, male, black, and unemployed
Offenders who are employed find it easier to maintain non-criminal self-concepts
Political Criminals
Political crimes are crimes against the government and crimes by the government. Crimes against the government include crimes against the state such as protests, expressions of beliefs contrary to accepted standards, or attempts to alter current social and political structures. Crimes against governments include treason, sedition, sabotage, assassination, hijacking violation of draft laws, and illegal civil rights protests. Political offenders perceive themselves as revolutionaries who pursue ideological goals rather than personal ones. Crimes by governments include corruption, obstruction of justice, conspiracy, perjury. and bribery. Police officers commit acts of misconduct such as brutality, illegal use of force, illegal searches and seizures, and violating citizens' civil rights.
Organized Criminals
Organized crime is a series of illegal transactions between multiple offenders, some of whom employ specialized skills, over a continuous period of time, for purposes of economic advantage and political power when necessary to gain economic advantage Seven areas: Illegal gambling: book makers Racketeering: business extortion Distributing illegal drugs Usury or loan sharking Illicit sex: prostitution, nude bars, porn Reselling stolen or hijacked goods Controlling legitimate businesses to cover illegitimate ones
Professional Offenders
Professional offenders develop the most extensive criminal careers Skills of professional offenders: The skills used are what separates professional criminals from others Professional criminals are a rar