Section 3.2

What You’ll Learn How to define major crimes against people (p. 62) How to define major crimes against property (p. 66)

What You’ll Learn How to define major crimes that involve controlled substances (p. 71) How to define major crimes that involve computers (p. 71)

Why It’s Important Learning how to distinguish among various crimes will help you understand criminal liability.

Legal Terms murder (p. 62) manslaughter (p. 62) battery (p. 63) assault (p. 64) kidnapping (p. 64) burglary (p. 67)

Legal Terms larceny (p. 68) embezzlement (p. 68) robbery (p. 68) arson (p. 68) vandalism (p. 69) shoplifting (p. 69)

Section Outline Crimes Against People Murder Manslaughter Assault and Battery Kidnapping Sex Offenses Domestic Violence Hate Crimes

Section Outline Crimes Against Property Burglary Larceny Embezzlement Robbery Arson Vandalism Shoplifting

Section Outline Motor Vehicle Violations Crimes Involving Controlled Substances Alcohol Drugs

Section Outline Computer Crimes Federal Crimes and Laws State Crimes and Computers

Pre-Learning Question What do you think are crimes against people?

Crimes Against People Some crimes can be specifically categorized as crimes against people.

Murder Murder is the unlawful killing of another human being with malice aforethought.

Manslaughter Manslaughter is the unlawful killing of another human being without malice aforethought.

Assault and Battery Battery is the unlawful touching of another person. Assault is an attempt to commit battery.

Kidnapping Kidnapping is the unlawful removal or restraint of a person against his or her will.

Sex Offenses Sex offenses include statutory rape and sexual assault.

Domestic Violence Domestic violence is any reckless form of physical or mental abuse within a family or household.

Hate Crimes Actions using certain symbols, writings, pictures, or spoken words to cause fear or anger in people because of their race, religion, color, or gender are known as hate crimes.

What is the difference between murder and manslaughter?

ANSWER Murder indicates malice aforethought and manslaughter does not.

Pre-Learning Question What do you think are crimes against property?

Crimes Against Property Common crimes against property include burglary, larceny, embezzlement, robbery, arson, vandalism and shoplifting.

Burglary Burglary is the breaking and entering of homes and other places with the intent to commit a misdemeanor or a felony.

Larceny Larceny is the unlawful taking and carrying away of the personal property of another with the intent to deprive the owner of the property.

Embezzlement Embezzlement is the wrongful taking of another’s property by a person who has been entrusted with that property.

Robbery Robbery is the wrongful taking and carrying away of the personal property of another through violence or threats.

Arson Arson is the willful and malicious burning of homes and other buildings.

Vandalism Vandalism is the willful or malicious damage to property.

Shoplifting Shoplifting is the act of stealing goods from a store.

During the time Joe Banks worked at the Stop and Go gas station, he put nearly 600 gallons of gasoline into his own car without paying for it. What crime is he probably guilty of?

ANSWER Embezzlement

Pre-Learning Question What do you think are motor vehicle violations?

Motor Vehicle Violations Drag racing—the unauthorized racing of two vehicles side by side and the timing of vehicles that separately run a prearranged course. Joyriding—taking temporarily a motor vehicle without the owner’s permission.

Pre-Learning Question Why are alcohol, tobacco, and drugs considered controlled substances?

Crimes Involving Controlled 3.2 Crimes Involving Controlled Substances Federal and state governments control who may or may not possess or use alcohol tobacco drugs

Pre-Learning Question What kind of crimes can a person commit with a computer?

Computer Crimes Computers and network devices have introduced new ways to commit crimes. Both federal and state statutes address this new legal problem.

Federal Computer Laws The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act is aimed at computer hackers. The National Information Infrastructure Act outlaws the extortion of money or other favors in exchange for not causing a computer system to crash.

State Computer Laws Computer trespass outlaws using a computer for any crime. Computer fraud statutes make it an offense to use a computer to acquire property, services, or money by fraud.

State Computer Laws Some states have a detailed list of computer-related crimes including: Theft of computer services Destruction of equipment Misuse of computer information

Reviewing What You Learned Section 3.2 Assessment Reviewing What You Learned What are the major crimes committed against people?

Reviewing What You Learned Answer Section 3.2 Assessment Reviewing What You Learned Answer Murder, manslaughter, assault, battery, kidnapping, sex offenses, domestic violence, and hate crimes.

Reviewing What You Learned Section 3.2 Assessment Reviewing What You Learned What are the major crimes committed against property?

Reviewing What You Learned Answer Section 3.2 Assessment Reviewing What You Learned Answer Burglary, larceny, embezzlement, robbery, arson, vandalism, and shoplifting.

Reviewing What You Learned Section 3.2 Assessment Reviewing What You Learned What are the major crimes that involve controlled substances?

Reviewing What You Learned Answer Section 3.2 Assessment Reviewing What You Learned Answer Those associated with drugs and alcohol.

Reviewing What You Learned Section 3.2 Assessment Reviewing What You Learned How have the states dealt with computer crime?

Reviewing What You Learned Answer Section 3.2 Assessment Reviewing What You Learned Answer Creation of the crime of computer trespass and passing computer fraud statutes.

Critical Thinking Activity Computer Crime Section 3.2 Assessment Critical Thinking Activity Computer Crime Which of the methods adopted by states to deal with computer crimes do you feel is most effective? Explain your answer.

Critical Thinking Activity Answer Computer Crime Section 3.2 Assessment Critical Thinking Activity Answer Computer Crime Answers will vary, but may reflect your experience with computers.

Legal Skills in Action Hate Speech Section 3.2 Assessment Legal Skills in Action Hate Speech Many states have made it a crime to use certain symbols, writings, pictures, or spoken words to cause fear or anger in people because of their race, religion, color, or gender.

Legal Skills in Action Hate Speech Section 3.2 Assessment Legal Skills in Action Hate Speech The courts have held that hate crime or hate speech statutes must be drafted very narrowly.

Legal Skills in Action Hate Speech Section 3.2 Assessment Legal Skills in Action Hate Speech Imagine that you are a television newscaster for a cable news network. Write an opinion piece in which you argue that the courts are wrong in their rulings regarding hate speech.

Legal Skills in Action Answer Section 3.2 Assessment Legal Skills in Action Answer Hate Speech Opinions will vary, but should reflect an understanding of our Constitutional rights of individual liberty as described in the Bill of Rights.

End of Section 3.2