WJEC CRIMINOLOGY UNIT 2 Questions
and Correct Answers Graded A+ 100%
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1. social definition: what society believes is wrong within a community. for example, moat
people in the UK would think it is wrong to have sex with a 14-year old, but in other cultures in
different countries it might not be seen as a problem because society doesn't label it as one.
2. legal definition: in our society, it is the legal system which defines crime. for example
behaviour that breaks
the law and for which you are punished by the legal system.
3. actus reus: latin for guilty act. essentially means committing a crime.
4. mens rea: latin for guilt mind. essentially means having a motive to commit the crime.
5. cautions: administered by the police for minor crimes such as writing graffiti on a bus shelter.
you have to admit an offence and agree to be cautioned; otherwise you could be arrested for the
offence. a caution is not a criminal conviction.
6. conditional cautions: given by the police but you have to agree to certain rules and
restrictions, such as
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, receiving treatment for drug abuse or repairing damage to a property.
7. penalty notices: given for offences such as shoplifting, possessing cannabis, or being drunk
and disorderly in public. you can only get a penalty notice of you are ages 18 or over.
8. custodial sentences: where you are immediately sent to prison. there are mandatory and
discretionary life sentences and fixed term and indeterminate prison sentences.
9. community services: a combination order (sentence of the court that combines a
probation order and a community service order) including unpaid work, probation, curfew and
orders such as having drug testing and treatment.
10. fines: financial penalties; the amount depends on the seriousness of the offence and the
financial circum-
stances of the offender.
11. discharge: either conditional, when if the defendant re-offends during a set time period the
court can give an alternative sentence, or absolute, when no penalty is imposed as the defendant is
technically guilty but morally blameless.
12. fatal offences against the person: murder, manslaughter.
13. non-fatal offences against the person: assault, battery, actual and grievous
bodily harm.
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12
and Correct Answers Graded A+ 100%
Complete Guaranteed Verified by Experts
1. social definition: what society believes is wrong within a community. for example, moat
people in the UK would think it is wrong to have sex with a 14-year old, but in other cultures in
different countries it might not be seen as a problem because society doesn't label it as one.
2. legal definition: in our society, it is the legal system which defines crime. for example
behaviour that breaks
the law and for which you are punished by the legal system.
3. actus reus: latin for guilty act. essentially means committing a crime.
4. mens rea: latin for guilt mind. essentially means having a motive to commit the crime.
5. cautions: administered by the police for minor crimes such as writing graffiti on a bus shelter.
you have to admit an offence and agree to be cautioned; otherwise you could be arrested for the
offence. a caution is not a criminal conviction.
6. conditional cautions: given by the police but you have to agree to certain rules and
restrictions, such as
1/
12
, receiving treatment for drug abuse or repairing damage to a property.
7. penalty notices: given for offences such as shoplifting, possessing cannabis, or being drunk
and disorderly in public. you can only get a penalty notice of you are ages 18 or over.
8. custodial sentences: where you are immediately sent to prison. there are mandatory and
discretionary life sentences and fixed term and indeterminate prison sentences.
9. community services: a combination order (sentence of the court that combines a
probation order and a community service order) including unpaid work, probation, curfew and
orders such as having drug testing and treatment.
10. fines: financial penalties; the amount depends on the seriousness of the offence and the
financial circum-
stances of the offender.
11. discharge: either conditional, when if the defendant re-offends during a set time period the
court can give an alternative sentence, or absolute, when no penalty is imposed as the defendant is
technically guilty but morally blameless.
12. fatal offences against the person: murder, manslaughter.
13. non-fatal offences against the person: assault, battery, actual and grievous
bodily harm.
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12
