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Criminology Unit 2 - AC1.1 Exam Questions
With Verified Answers
Criminal behaviour - Social definition - Answers✔Crime can be labelled as a social interaction
or a wrong against the community. If society says that an act is a crime then it becomes one. A
social definition of crime is hard because it can vary from culture to culture, for example some
crimes are criminal in some countries but not others, such as bigamy. However some crimes are
universal, such as sexual offences.
Criminal behaviour - Legal definition - Answers✔Behaviour that breaks the law and for which
you are punished by the legal system, for example theft, fraud and murder.
Actus reus - Answers✔An element of crime which means the guilty act.
Mens rea - Answers✔An element of crime which means the guilty mind.
Formal sanctions against criminals - Non-court - Answers✔Cautions, conditional cautions,
penalty notices.
Cautions - Answers✔Administered by the police for minor crimes such as graffiti on a bus
shelter. You have to admit to the offence and agree to be cautioned; otherwise you could be
arrested for the offence, caution is not a criminal conviction.
Conditional cautions - Answers✔Given by the police but you have to agree to certain rules and
restrictions, such as receiving treatment for drug abuse.
Penalty notices - Answers✔Given for disorder offences, such as shoplifting, possessing cannabis,
or being drunk and disorderly in public. You can only receive a penalty punishment if you are 18
or over.
Formal sanctions against criminals - Court sanctions - Answers✔Custodial sentencing,
community sentences, fines, discharge.
Custodial sentences - Answers✔You are immediately sent to prison, there are mandatory (already
known time in prison) or discretionary (your sentence is still to be decided) life sentences and
fixed term and indeterminate prison sentences.
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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Criminology Unit 2 - AC1.1 Exam Questions
With Verified Answers
Criminal behaviour - Social definition - Answers✔Crime can be labelled as a social interaction
or a wrong against the community. If society says that an act is a crime then it becomes one. A
social definition of crime is hard because it can vary from culture to culture, for example some
crimes are criminal in some countries but not others, such as bigamy. However some crimes are
universal, such as sexual offences.
Criminal behaviour - Legal definition - Answers✔Behaviour that breaks the law and for which
you are punished by the legal system, for example theft, fraud and murder.
Actus reus - Answers✔An element of crime which means the guilty act.
Mens rea - Answers✔An element of crime which means the guilty mind.
Formal sanctions against criminals - Non-court - Answers✔Cautions, conditional cautions,
penalty notices.
Cautions - Answers✔Administered by the police for minor crimes such as graffiti on a bus
shelter. You have to admit to the offence and agree to be cautioned; otherwise you could be
arrested for the offence, caution is not a criminal conviction.
Conditional cautions - Answers✔Given by the police but you have to agree to certain rules and
restrictions, such as receiving treatment for drug abuse.
Penalty notices - Answers✔Given for disorder offences, such as shoplifting, possessing cannabis,
or being drunk and disorderly in public. You can only receive a penalty punishment if you are 18
or over.
Formal sanctions against criminals - Court sanctions - Answers✔Custodial sentencing,
community sentences, fines, discharge.
Custodial sentences - Answers✔You are immediately sent to prison, there are mandatory (already
known time in prison) or discretionary (your sentence is still to be decided) life sentences and
fixed term and indeterminate prison sentences.
1
