Crime and Data
What term describes crimes that occur but are never reported to or recorded by police?
What theory explains crime through the presence of a motivated offender, a suitable target, and the absence of a capable guardian?
Routine Activities Theory
Which criminologist is associated with the historical concept of the 'born criminal'
Cesare Lombroso
Which of Hirschi's four bonds refers to emotional connections with parents, teachers, or other important people?
Attachment
In Marx's framework, what term describes the class that owns the means of production?
Bourgeoisie
Which national survey collects information directly from people about their experiences with criminal victimization?
NCVS
Which element of deterrence concerns how quickly punishment follows an offense?
Swiftness
What is the difference between a biological risk factor and biological determinism?
A risk factor may influence the likelihood of behavior; determinism claims the behavior is biologically predetermined.
A student avoids shoplifting because they don't want to jeopardize their college scholarship. Which bond is this?
Commitment
What does surplus value refer to in Marxist theory?
The value created by labor beyond the value paid to labor, appropriated by owners.
A researcher notices that arrest numbers increased. Why can't they automatically conclude that actual crime increased?
Arrests may change because of policing practices, enforcement priorities, or reporting patterns.
A shop owner moves expensive merchandise behind a locked display case. What general crime prevention approach is being used?
Situational crime prevention.
What concept describes neighborhood residents trusting one another and being willing to intervene for the common good?
Collective efficacy
A teenager spends afternoons playing sports, volunteering, and participating in school activities. Which bond does this best illustrate?
Involvement
Which criminological perspective examines how power and inequality influence laws and their enforcement?
Critical criminology
What is one major limitation of using the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) to measure crime in the United States?
It relies on crimes reported to and recorded by law enforcement, meaning unreported crimes are not captured.
What does the CRAVED acronym help criminologists explain?
Why certain products are attractive theft targets: Concealable, Removable, Available, Valuable, Enjoyable, and Disposable.
According to Merton's strain theory, what adaptation involves accepting society's success goals but using illegitimate means to achieve them?
Innovation
A student refuses to cheat because they believe cheating is morally wrong. Which bond is this?
Belief
What is the primary goal of restorative justice?
To promote accountability, repair harm, and address the needs of people affected by an offense.
A city installs more surveillance cameras and later records more offenses. Why doesn't this prove the cameras caused more crime?
Correlation does not establish causation; increased detection or other factors could explain the change.
A person weighs the potential rewards of stealing against the chance of being caught. Which theory explains this decision-making?
Rational choice theory
What is the main difference between social structure and social process theories?
Social structure theories emphasize how broader social and economic conditions, such as poverty, inequality, and neighborhood environments, influence crime. Social process theories focus on how relationships, social interactions, learning, and societal reactions influence criminal behavior.
How is Hirschi's social bond theory different from social learning theory?
Social bond theory focuses on how connections to conventional society restrain delinquency; social learning theory focuses on how behavior is learned and reinforced through interactions.
What is the difference between instrumental and structural theories in critical criminology?
Instrumental theory emphasizes law serving powerful class interests; structural theory emphasizes law maintaining the overall capitalist system, sometimes by regulating powerful interests.