PUP 3002-Chapter 9 Exam Questions
and Answers
Expected Utility of not getting caught - ANSWER-o People tend to commit crimes
because they want
o Examples: Monetary Value, Prestige, etc.
o Personal costs are factored in:
o Variables
o Will committing a crime hurt ones self (Tell Tale Heart; Crime and Punishment)
o One's valuation of personal harm can be predicted by several variables: mental
illness; empathy; morals
o Social Groupings: Is this simply part of my group identity? Does helping the group
make this okay?
Probability of caught - ANSWER-For deterring crime, what is even more important
than actual punishment is a person's perception that they will be caught and
convicted
o How many cops are in the area
o Do I possess the skill set to get away with it?
Utility of getting caught - ANSWER-o Individuals who commit a crime experience
three types of costs
o punishment by the state—fines, imprisonment
o social costs—mom yells at you, partner leaves you
o economic opportunity costs—what are you giving up to commit these crimes
o Punishment by State: How adverse to prison are you?
o Factors: knowing people in prison. How much do you value life outside of prison?
o Social Costs: Do you have a family to disappoint? Do you have a family to guide
you?
o Economic Factors: How much would committing this crime increase your
income/worth relative to going to work?
o Factors: Jobs availably, education, etc.
o Some people just don't hate being caught that much, relative to others
Strategies to reduce crime
Strategies to reduce crime - ANSWER-• Reduce the perceived benefits of crime
• Increase the probability of getting caught
• Increase the cost of crime
Economy and Jobs - ANSWER-• Crime is often seen as a way to make money
• Individuals that have less opportunity to make money through legal means have
greater incentive to resort to crime
• When the economy is good, more (and better) jobs are available
• When the economy increases, crime tends to decrease
and Answers
Expected Utility of not getting caught - ANSWER-o People tend to commit crimes
because they want
o Examples: Monetary Value, Prestige, etc.
o Personal costs are factored in:
o Variables
o Will committing a crime hurt ones self (Tell Tale Heart; Crime and Punishment)
o One's valuation of personal harm can be predicted by several variables: mental
illness; empathy; morals
o Social Groupings: Is this simply part of my group identity? Does helping the group
make this okay?
Probability of caught - ANSWER-For deterring crime, what is even more important
than actual punishment is a person's perception that they will be caught and
convicted
o How many cops are in the area
o Do I possess the skill set to get away with it?
Utility of getting caught - ANSWER-o Individuals who commit a crime experience
three types of costs
o punishment by the state—fines, imprisonment
o social costs—mom yells at you, partner leaves you
o economic opportunity costs—what are you giving up to commit these crimes
o Punishment by State: How adverse to prison are you?
o Factors: knowing people in prison. How much do you value life outside of prison?
o Social Costs: Do you have a family to disappoint? Do you have a family to guide
you?
o Economic Factors: How much would committing this crime increase your
income/worth relative to going to work?
o Factors: Jobs availably, education, etc.
o Some people just don't hate being caught that much, relative to others
Strategies to reduce crime
Strategies to reduce crime - ANSWER-• Reduce the perceived benefits of crime
• Increase the probability of getting caught
• Increase the cost of crime
Economy and Jobs - ANSWER-• Crime is often seen as a way to make money
• Individuals that have less opportunity to make money through legal means have
greater incentive to resort to crime
• When the economy is good, more (and better) jobs are available
• When the economy increases, crime tends to decrease
