DLE 1224: INTRODUCTION TO CRIME & SOCIETY

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO
CRIME & SOCIETY
What is Crime?
Conduct that violates federal, state or local laws (Penal Code)
Penalty (punishment) will be imposed when you break the law
Without law listing the prohibited behaviors, there can be no crime
The most popular view is that crime is a category created by law; in
other words, something is a crime if declared as such by the relevant
and applicable law
Definitions of Crime
An action or omission that constitutes an offense that may be
prosecuted by the state and is punishable by law
Illegal activities
An illegal act for which someone can be punished by the
government; especially : a gross violation of law
One proposed definition is that a crime or offence (or criminal
offence) is an act harmful not only to some individual but also to a
community, society or the state ("a public wrong")
Definitions of Crime (continued)
Therefore from the above definitions, we can define crime to mean
any wrong morally or socially committed by one or group of persons
against another person or state that are prohibited by the state and
when convicted punishment if inflicted by the state rather than the
individual wrong person.
There are different types of crime such as; crimes against person,
crimes against property, organized crimes, occupational crimes, and
political crimes as well as corporate crimes.
Causes of Crime
Inherited?
Physical appearance?
Poverty (no opportunity, disregard effects)
Peer Pressure
Urbanization
Education
Elements of Crime
Actus non facit reum, nisi mens sit rea (an act does not make a person
legally guilty unless the mind is legallyblameworthy)
Physical: Actus reus (the guilty act)
An act or omission (not acting)
The conduct or action of the accused which produces or constitutes the
forbidden act
Mental: Mens rea (the guilty mind)
Intention, blameworthy state of mind.
Recklessness (knows the effect of the act)
Actus reus & Mens rea, exception of Mens rea
Ali stabs Daud to death with a knife because Daud keeps calling him
budak gemuk.
Ahmad went to a club one night and there was a police raid. Police
found 500g of cocaine in Ahmads pocket. Ahmad argued that he
thought that it was baby powder, not drugs.
Omission/failure to act:
Case: Lee Sai Yan v. PP accused, a site engineer did not prevent the deceased to
enter a bored hole without a breathing appartus.
What is Society?
Society means A larger group of individuals, who are associated with
each other.
According to sociologists, society is a group of people with a common
territory, interaction, and culture.
Societys role in defining crime
An act is not a crime until society doomed it to be.
If society considers some act not opposed to their group sentiments
than that act is not a crime at all.
E.g.: witchcraft, drinking alcohol
Societys outlook on the particular act is important in defining crime
For example, if society doesnt consider giving bribe as a crime then it
will not be counted as crime and no law will be made on that
although it morally incorrect.
Negative impacts of crime
Leads to negative effect to the society economically, socially and
politically
Interfere with development of society
Increase in crime rate results in government investing money to
reduce criminal activities, instead of using the money for productivity.
Huge amount of money spent on building prisons, purchasing
instruments to combat crime and paying people involved in Criminal
Justice System.
Lead to death of people
Number of people dying yearly increases with the increase in crime
rate.
Crimes lead to death of people (directly or indirectly)
For example, 13 May 1969 riot where the number of deaths reported
was between 196 people (official reports) to 600 people (Western
diplomatic source)
Destruction of property
Serious impact of crime in the society
Crimes such as vandalism
Increase the cost of living within the society
Cost incurred by society to prevent crimes
To investigate, prosecute criminals and cost to keep them imprisoned
Housing, clothing and feeding criminals is expensive
Discussion
Are some people naturally/born bad or does their upbringing and
environment lead them to commit crimes? How much should we
blame society and how much should we blame the person?
If a person acts in self-defense, should he be punished?
What is the difference between crime and sin?
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
 References:
Jianhong Liu, Bill Hebenton, Susyan Jou (2012) Handbook of Asian Criminology