Crime: Crash Course Sociology #20

Summary

The video script explores the sociological understanding of crime, discussing its nature, who commits it, and societal responses. It highlights crime types, arrest demographics, and the role of race and class in arrest rates. The script also addresses the criminal justice system's flaws, including overcriminalization, mass incarceration, and the challenges of rehabilitation and reintegration, emphasizing the interconnectedness of these issues.

Takeaways

• 📚 Crime is defined as the violation of criminal laws, with the FBI's Uniform Crime Report tracking various types including violent and property crimes.
• 🔍 There exists a category of 'victimless crimes' like drug use, prostitution, and gambling, which often have negative consequences despite their name.
• 📊 In 2015, the US had 1.2 million violent crimes and 8 million property crimes, with crime rates significantly lower than their peak in 1991.
• 👮‍♂️ Crime statistics are limited as they are based on reported crimes; victimization surveys suggest a large number of crimes go unreported.
• 👤 The demographic of arrestees is predominantly young males, with those aged 15-24 accounting for a third of all arrests despite being only 14% of the population.
• 💼 Socioeconomic status plays a role in arrests, with lower-class individuals more likely to be arrested, although this is not directly measured by the FBI.
• 🏆 Racial disparities are evident in arrests, with African Americans being overrepresented despite making up a smaller percentage of the population.
• 👁‍🗨 Perceptions of crime are influenced by race, with neighborhoods having larger African American populations perceived as having higher crime rates.
• 🏛 The criminal justice system responds to crime through law enforcement, courts, and corrections, with policing being highly subjective.
• 💰 The court system is influenced by economic status, with those who cannot afford bail or private attorneys facing harsher treatment.
• 🌐 Mass incarceration is a result of political policies rather than crime rates, disproportionately affecting the poor and people of color.

Q & A

What is the literal definition of crime according to the script?

The literal definition of crime is the violation of criminal laws.

What are the different types of crimes tracked by the FBI's Uniform Crime Report?

The FBI's Uniform Crime Report tracks crimes against the person (murder, aggravated assault, rape, robbery), crimes against property (burglary, larceny-theft, auto-theft, arson), and victimless crimes (illegal drug use, prostitution, gambling).

What were the crime rates per 100,000 people in the US for violent and property crimes in 2015?

In 2015, the crime rates were 372.6 violent crimes and 2,487 property crimes per 100,000 people.

Why are raw crime numbers not very helpful on their own?

Raw crime numbers are not very helpful because they don't provide context or comparison. Crime rates, which compare the number of crimes to the population, give a clearer picture.

What is the limitation of crime statistics based on police reports?

Crime statistics based on police reports only include crimes that are reported to the police, not all crimes committed.

What percentage of violent and property crimes were reported to the police according to a 2015 survey?

According to a 2015 survey, about 47% of violent crimes and 35% of property crimes were reported to the police.

What demographic characteristics are associated with those who are arrested for crimes?

The average arrestee is young and male. People between the ages of 15 and 24 and men are overrepresented in arrests. Those of lower social class are also more likely to be arrested.

What is the percentage of African Americans in the US population and their representation in arrests?

African Americans make up 13.3% of the US population but account for 26.6% of arrests.

Why are African Americans and people of color overcriminalized?

African Americans and people of color are overcriminalized due to their association with criminality, leading to more arrests even for similar behaviors.

How does the criminal justice system in the US respond to crime?

The criminal justice system in the US responds to crime through the police, courts, and the system of punishment and corrections.

What is mass incarceration and how does it relate to the US prison population?

Mass incarceration refers to the significant growth in the US incarcerated population over the past several decades, which is largely due to political choices like 'tough-on-crime' policies.

What are the four approaches to punishment mentioned in the script?

The four approaches to punishment are retribution, deterrence, societal protection, and rehabilitation.

What is the recidivism rate for prisoners released from 30 states according to the National Institute on Justice?

Within three years of release, 67.8% of prisoners were re-arrested, and within five years, 76.6% had been re-arrested.