1. Crime as a Social Construct
Class 1

2. Administrative Give quiz
Any questions about where we are or what we are doing?

3. Review
Neither the public nor criminal justice professionals have very much knowledge of criminology
The media and the government give us distorted images of crime although they don’t do so deliberately
Opinions are not appropriate for empirical questions where we can get empirical answers

4. Today Definition of Crime Meaning of social constructs What is a myth?
Media as mythmaker
Government as mythmaker
Mechanisms of myth creation
Key Points to Understand from today

5. I. Definition of Crime Many definitions possible
Gillin – “an act that has been shown to be actually harmful to society or that is believed to be socially harmful by a group of people that has the power to enforce its beliefs and that places such act under the ban of positive penalties” (1945)

6. II. Meaning of Social Constructs
Are there social constructs in addition to crime?
Some social constructions are obvious
Some less obvious
Social construction of different groups

7. III. What is a Myth? Nature of myths How do myths originate?
How are myths perpetuated?
Can myths be challenged?

8. IV. Media as Mythmaker How do the media create crime myths?
What is the impact on the public?

9. V. Government as Mythmaker
Why and how does the government create crime myths?
What is the effect on the public?

10. VI. Mechanisms of Myth Creation
How do myths, especially crime myths come about?
We should be suspicious about assertions of serious crime problems in the absence of empirical studies

11. VII. Key Points to Understand from Today
Crime is a social construct, i.e. it can only be understood in terms of a specific point in history, culture, etc.
Much of what the public thinks it knows about crime is mythical
Media and Government create crime myths but not deliberately and not by trying to lie to us

12. Next Time Techniques of myth construction
History of crime and criminals