1. Deviance and Social Control

2. Deviance Behavior that violates significant social norms
Norms – shared rules of conduct that tell people how to act in specific situations
Not all norm violations are deviant
different parts of the same society can have different rules
Can also change based on the society and time period

3. Deviance
Name some groups that were utterly deviant from society

4. Stigma
mark of social disgrace that sets a deviant apart from the rest of society
physical marks
Burns, brands, scars
clothing
Visual Signs – act as a warning and public humiliation

5. Classifying Norms According to Durkheim, deviance serves a purpose
High Level – disruptive to society.
Low Level – some positive function.
deviance helps to redefine and remind what society’s boundaries are
Punishing violators warns others

6. Unifying the Group
Draws the line between conforming and non-conforming members of society
“Us against Them” – reinforces the sense of community and the belief in shared values.
According to Durkheim, if deviance does not occur it must be invented
Maintain group unity

7. Diffusing Tension
When people are unhappy with their lives they may want to strike out at society
minor deviant acts are a safety valve
express discontent without destroying order
Participating in unauthorized demonstrations

8. Promoting Social Change
When large numbers of people violate a particular norm, it usually means that something must change
Once alerted, authority can correct the situation.

9. Providing Jobs Deviance provides jobs Police Lawyers Judges
Prison personnel
Parole officers
Criminologists
Crime reporters

10. Crime 29 types of crimes according to FBI 5 categories of crime
Most common offenses
Larceny (theft)
Assault
Drug Abuse (possession, sale, use)
DUI
5 categories of crime
Violent, crime against property, victimless crime, white-collar and organized crime
* Most crime is committed by people under 25*

11. Recidivism Repeated criminal behavior
62% of released prisoners will be charged with new crimes
41% will return to prison within 3 years
US Dept. of Justice

12. Violent Crime Murder, rape, aggravated assault & robbery
Very small percentage of crime
One occurs every 22 seconds
Increase in the early 90s, now declining

13. Crimes Against Property
Burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft & arson
Much more common
One every 3 seconds

14. Victimless Crimes Prostitution, illegal gambling, drug use & vagrancy
Harm no one but the person committing the act
However the societal consequences may be large.

15. White-Collar Crime
Offenses committed by individuals of high social status during their professional career
Politicians, employees of corporations
Misrepresentation, fraud, tax evasion, embezzlement, price fixing, toxic pollution, insider trading & political corruption
May cost the US $300,000,000,000 every year, plus effects on the American public
Corporations are considered “persons” and can also be charged with specific crimes

16. Organized Crime
Crime syndicate - large scale organization of professional criminals that controls some sort of vice or business through violence or threats
Can operate a legal business as a front - can reinvest illegal money
Can make huge profits - loan sharking, drug trafficking, illegal gambling, unfair labor practices, hijacking merchandise & lending with high interest rates

17. Terrorism Threat or use of violence to achieve political goals
325 terrorist acts/suspected acts in the US in the past 20 years
Terrorism prevention - FBI
Monitors both domestic and international acts of terrorism

18. Police Have most control over who is arrested
Can’t arrest everyone who is accused of a crime
Must consider seriousness of a crime
Wishes of victim
Attitude of suspect
Presence of bystanders
Racial profiling

19. Courts Determines guilt or innocence and possible punishment
90% of cases are settled by a plea bargain
Plea bargain - plead guilty to a lesser charge for a light sentence

20. Discussion
Should the government be able to track criminals after their release?
What effect does a false arrest have on a person? Why?
How can you reduce recidivism?
If you could change something about the US corrections system, what would it be? Why?

21. Corrections Imprisonment, parole, probation & community service
Retribution - punishing a criminal is an act of revenge for victim and society
Deterrence - discourage possible offenders
Rehabilitation - reform criminals to return to normal life
Social Protection - limiting freedom of offenders prevents them from committing additional crimes

22. Juvenile Justice Offenders under 18
individuals under 18 supposedly are not as reasonable as adults
Different set of expectations
Don’t always have equal protection, must be granted by court
In some states, courts are setting a precedent that juveniles are tried as adults for charges like murder
However, more rehabilitation is offered for juveniles