1. List 3 reason as to why you think most people commit legally deviant acts. (crimes)

2. What is a crime?  something that one does or fails to do in violation of law. It can also be defined as behavior for which a government has a set a penalty  The goals of laws are to protect human rights for all and to regulate human conduct so that all can live in harmony

3. Why do people commit crimes??? - Poverty - permissive courts - unemployment - lack of education - abuse of alcohol - inadequate police protection - rising population - lack of parental guidance - a breakdown of morals - an ineffective correctional system - little chance of being caught/punished - the influence of TV and films

4. Stats  Crime tends to be slightly higher in suburban areas than urban areas.  Youths between the ages of 15-24 commit more violent crimes.  Males commit almost four times as many crimes as female.  The victim knows in the offender 50% of the time.  Total govt expenditures on crime is roughly 100 billion a year.  A family spends $1,500 a year on crime

5. Question…  From what you know now, create a top 5 of which you think are the main reasons why crimes are committed in kids YOUR AGE (high school kids)  Afterwards, write the 3 most common laws you think most high school aged kids break.

9. Would tougher penalties end crime in America?  The US has some of the toughest criminalization laws, as well as highest incarceration rate among any industrialized country.  Tough penalties may deter some from committing crimes, but compared to the number of crimes, the amount incarcerated is low.

10. What role do drugs play in crime?  50-75% of people arrested test positive of narcotics  crack and crime are closest in criminal activity  Our nation’s prison population has exploded beyond capacity.  1 in 100 U.S. citizens is now confined in jail or prison.  The U.S. incarcerates more people per capita than 26 of the largest European nations combined.  Incarceration rates in the U.S. are nine times greater for young African-American men between the ages of 20 and 34 years.  Most inmates are in prison, at least in large part, because of substance abuse.  80% of offenders abuse drugs or alcohol.  Nearly 50% of jail and prison inmates are clinically addicted.  Approximately 60% of individuals arrested for most types of crimes test positive for illegal drugs at arrest.  Imprisonment has little effect on drug abuse.  60 - 80% of drug abusers commit a new crime (typically a drug-driven crime) after release from prison.  Approximately 95% return to drug abuse after release from prison.

11. CRIMINAL STATISTICS  Govt. spends 1 Billion $/year on crime --- Families spend 1500$/year on crime  15-24 age group is the biggest % of criminals  50% of crimes, the victim know the attacker  You're 66 times more likely to be prosecuted in the USA as in France.

12. Thoughts….  Which factors do you feel are more prevalent when determining which people commit more crimes?  How do you feel the media has affects crimes?