Crime in American Society. I. The Types of Crime. Crimes Against People. •
Crimes against people are also called “violent crimes.” These are acts that
threaten ...
Crime in American Society
I. The Types of Crime Crimes Against People • Crimes against people are also called “violent crimes.” These are acts that threaten, hurt, or end a person’s life and include some of the most serious offences such as murder, rape and assault. • Within this category of crimes there are different levels of severity. These are distinguished by “degree.” There are also different charges for different actions—for example, “placing someone in fear” is called assault, while actually striking someone is called battery. •
Killing someone intentionally is called murder, while a killing that happens by accident is called manslaughter.
Crimes Against Property • Crimes against property are the most common types of crime. Most involve stealing, and charges include larceny (stealing without violence), robbery (stealing by force or threat), and burglary (breaking into a building for illegal purposes). • Other crimes against property include arson and vandalism. White-‐Collar Crime • White-‐collar crimes are non-‐violent crimes committed by office workers for personal or business gain. • Fraud, embezzlement and tax evasion are all examples of white-‐collar crimes.
Victimless Crimes • Some activities are considered crimes because they go against common social values, not because they harm innocent people. • Examples of “victimless” crimes include drug use, prostitution and some forms of gambling. • Some question whether such activities ought to be considered criminal, while others argue that there are certainly innocent victims of each of these behaviors (and thus they should not be considered “victimless.”) Crimes Against the Government • Some of the most serious crimes are crimes against the government. These include treason (helping the enemies of our country) and terrorism (using violence or the threat of violence to try to get what you want from the government). II. The Causes of Crime In the United States, millions of crimes are committed each year. Obviously, it is difficult to pinpoint why this is the case. Some suggested causes of crime include: • Poverty • Social Change and Changing Values • Poor Parenting • Drug Use and Mental Illness • Permissive Courts • Not Enough Money for Police • Violence in the Media • No Single Cause
