Crime in the United States 7th Grade Civics Miss Smith *pgs. 382-386

Types of Crime Crime- any act that breaks the law and for which there is a punishment Criminal- a person who commits any type of crime Felonies- serious crimes, such as murder and kidnapping Misdemeanors- less serious offenses, such as traffic violations and disturbing the peace The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) collects info on crime in the U.S.

Types of Crime Crimes against Persons Violent crimes- done w/ force or threat of force Aggravated assault- any kind of physical injury that is done intentionally to another person Hate crimes- committed against people because of prejudice (often violent crimes) What is the most serious violent crime? How many were committed in the U.S. annually from 2001 to 2008? Homicide; more than 16,00

Types of Crime Crimes against Property Stealing or destroying someone else’s property Burglary- illegally entering someone’s home with the intent to steal Robbery- a crime that involves both property and people Larceny- theft without force/violence Arson- setting fires Vandalism- destruction of property List some of the crimes committed against property in the U.S. burglary, larceny, vandalism, arson

Types of Crime Victimless Crimes Crimes where the criminals do not violate another person’s rights, but mainly harm themselves Ex: illegal gambling, illegal drugs, etc. These crimes can lead to other types of crime How could a victimless crime turn into a more serious crime that could potentially have a victim?

Types of Crime White-collar Crimes Nonviolent crimes that range from copyright violations to embezzlement and fraud Embezzlement- theft of money that has been entrusted to an individual’s care Fraud- cheating someone out of money or property Cybercrime- computer hacking Identity theft

Causes of Crime Poverty- when people can’t earn enough to support themselves Illegal Drug Use- acting under the influence, or stealing to support their addictions Permissive Society- letting children do what they want doesn’t teach them responsibility How can poverty and unemployment contribute to crime in society? When people can’t earn enough money to support themselves and their families, they may turn to crime to obtain things they don’t have Why do some people believe that a permissive society contributes to crime? Do you agree? Why (not)?

No Single Cause of crime Causes of Crime Urbanization- more people in one area means more potential victims Other Causes- more technology, lack of education, violence in the media, lack of resources No Single Cause of crime

Fighting Crime Increase the number of police officers Expand the prison system Tougher legal penalties 3 strikes rule- life sentences to 3 time violent offenders How can people try to remain safe from crime? By reporting all crimes that they see and taking common-sense precautions to ensure their safety an the safety of others What strategies were included in the national crime bill of 1994? Increasing the number of police officers and expanding the prison system, etc.