Englisch-Abitur - crime & punishment in literature & film
Inhaltsverzeichnis
CRIME & PUNISHMENT IN LITERATURE & FILM ................................................................... 1
1. Definitions of crime .......................................................................................................................... 1
2. Nature vs. Nurture, crime theories .................................................................................................. 3
3. Consequences of crime – victims & perpetrators ........................................................................... 5
4. Punishment types ............................................................................................................................ 7
5. Civil Disobedience ......................................................................................................................... 10
6. Fascination of (true) crime ............................................................................................................. 11
7. Crime Fiction .................................................................................................................................. 13
1. Definitions of crime
Definition from our lessons: "An action (or inaction) that breaks the law."
British definition by the Oxford Dictionary of Law: “An act (or sometimes a failure to act) that is
deemed by statute or by the common law to be a public wrong and is therefore punishable by the
state in criminal proceedings.”
American definition by Cornell University of Law: “Crime is behavior, either by act or omission,
defined by statutory or common law as deserving of punishment or penalty.”
Types of crimes
Violent Crimes: Violent crimes are committed when people get hurt physically. Sometimes
involving objects like firearms or other weapons.
• Murder
• Rape
• Robbery (Theft by use of Violence)
• Aggravated Assault
Organized Crime: Organized crime is a huge issue. Some organizations control large parts of
organized crime moving large sums of cash and hold a lot of power over people.
• Bribery/sports bribery (Bestechung)
• Obstruction of justice (Behinderung der Justiz)
• Kidnapping
• Interstate shipment theft
• Extortion (Erpressung)
• Human trafficking (Menschenhandel)
1
, White-collar crime: White-collar crime involves people working white-collar jobs, like those in
Business and the Government. They usually don't involve physical violence and rather rely on fraud.
• Money laundering
• Mortgage fraud
• Intellectual property theft or piracy (Piraterie)
Cyber Crimes: Cyber crimes are those committed with computers/the internet.
• Identity theft
• Computer / Network hacking
• Fraud (Betrug)
• Online predation
• Direct denial-of-service (DDoS attacks)
Hate crimes: hate-motivated shootings and attacks targeting people of a particular race, ethnicity,
gender, or orientation.
Property crimes: Property crimes affect an individual, business, or government’s property,
including places of residence, places of work, or personal belongings.
• Larceny-theft (the unlawful removal of property.)
• Burglary (unlawful entry of a structure to commit a felony or theft.” Burglary does not require
an element of force; someone who opens an unlocked door into a house and commits theft
has still committed a burglary)
• Motor vehicle theft (entails the theft or attempted theft of a motor vehicle that may travel on
roads, so not farm equipment, airplanes etc.)
• Arson (the burning or attempt to burn any house, public building, dwelling, motor vehicle or
aircraft, personal property, etc.)
Sex crimes: The factor that distinguishes sex crimes from e.g. prostitution is consent. Sexual
crimes occur when there is nonconsensual activity between individuals.
• Rape
• Sexual activity with minors
• Revenge porn
• Sexual harassment
Classifications
Crime vs. Civil wrong
Crime: against the interest of the state, against the greater good → punishment: community
condemnation, punishment by state
Civil wrong: against the interest of individuals → punishment: compensation, restitution
2
Inhaltsverzeichnis
CRIME & PUNISHMENT IN LITERATURE & FILM ................................................................... 1
1. Definitions of crime .......................................................................................................................... 1
2. Nature vs. Nurture, crime theories .................................................................................................. 3
3. Consequences of crime – victims & perpetrators ........................................................................... 5
4. Punishment types ............................................................................................................................ 7
5. Civil Disobedience ......................................................................................................................... 10
6. Fascination of (true) crime ............................................................................................................. 11
7. Crime Fiction .................................................................................................................................. 13
1. Definitions of crime
Definition from our lessons: "An action (or inaction) that breaks the law."
British definition by the Oxford Dictionary of Law: “An act (or sometimes a failure to act) that is
deemed by statute or by the common law to be a public wrong and is therefore punishable by the
state in criminal proceedings.”
American definition by Cornell University of Law: “Crime is behavior, either by act or omission,
defined by statutory or common law as deserving of punishment or penalty.”
Types of crimes
Violent Crimes: Violent crimes are committed when people get hurt physically. Sometimes
involving objects like firearms or other weapons.
• Murder
• Rape
• Robbery (Theft by use of Violence)
• Aggravated Assault
Organized Crime: Organized crime is a huge issue. Some organizations control large parts of
organized crime moving large sums of cash and hold a lot of power over people.
• Bribery/sports bribery (Bestechung)
• Obstruction of justice (Behinderung der Justiz)
• Kidnapping
• Interstate shipment theft
• Extortion (Erpressung)
• Human trafficking (Menschenhandel)
1
, White-collar crime: White-collar crime involves people working white-collar jobs, like those in
Business and the Government. They usually don't involve physical violence and rather rely on fraud.
• Money laundering
• Mortgage fraud
• Intellectual property theft or piracy (Piraterie)
Cyber Crimes: Cyber crimes are those committed with computers/the internet.
• Identity theft
• Computer / Network hacking
• Fraud (Betrug)
• Online predation
• Direct denial-of-service (DDoS attacks)
Hate crimes: hate-motivated shootings and attacks targeting people of a particular race, ethnicity,
gender, or orientation.
Property crimes: Property crimes affect an individual, business, or government’s property,
including places of residence, places of work, or personal belongings.
• Larceny-theft (the unlawful removal of property.)
• Burglary (unlawful entry of a structure to commit a felony or theft.” Burglary does not require
an element of force; someone who opens an unlocked door into a house and commits theft
has still committed a burglary)
• Motor vehicle theft (entails the theft or attempted theft of a motor vehicle that may travel on
roads, so not farm equipment, airplanes etc.)
• Arson (the burning or attempt to burn any house, public building, dwelling, motor vehicle or
aircraft, personal property, etc.)
Sex crimes: The factor that distinguishes sex crimes from e.g. prostitution is consent. Sexual
crimes occur when there is nonconsensual activity between individuals.
• Rape
• Sexual activity with minors
• Revenge porn
• Sexual harassment
Classifications
Crime vs. Civil wrong
Crime: against the interest of the state, against the greater good → punishment: community
condemnation, punishment by state
Civil wrong: against the interest of individuals → punishment: compensation, restitution
2
