Article : Criminology - Literature review Example

Article Review: Criminology Name Course Date Article Review Chapter 1: Media and Crime Article by the Australian psychological society limited on ‘media portrayals of crime’ is the article under review. The article defines contexts in which media in Australia contributes to crime. The author states that, although crime is overestimated within societal levels, media contributes a big deal to the overestimation. Publications and reports by media usually provide an exaggerated version of crimes related to violence, youths and persons that are mentally ill. According to Davis and Dossetor (2010), media influences perceptions of the public on crime, which in turn affects policy decisions on operational activity. In 2007, incidences of crime in Australia increased as a result of media exaggerations on crime. According to the article, most crimes do not involve much violence or totally no violence at all. The article also states that, media is a main contributor of criminal acts since some viewers gain knowledge of crime through the constant talks and broadcasting of criminal cases. According to DowlerDowler (2003), crime and justice in Western society is a fascinating topic for discussions. The public therefore tends to get more knowledge on crime and justice from media links. Crime represented in televisions tends to be more violent and dangerous compared to crime in the real world where individuals get into contact with the real crime. For this reason, the article emphasizes that, parents, educators and the general public are responsible for controlling crime among young adults and children. Media also plays a role in shaping the public against crime and criminal acts. According to the article, media at times paint a black picture of the world as a scary and mean surrounding where victims face consequences while others are affected by criminal acts. The author states that, media communicates certain values needed by the community to deliver to the public n actual meaning of crime and criminality of current world (The Australian psychological society limited, 2000). Chapter 2: Defining crime Review on the definition of crime is on the article by David O Friedrichs, a Criminologist titled ‘White collar crime in a contemporary society’. Reason for choosing this article is because the author illustrates aspects of crime that are less dealt with in the current definitions of crime in the society. Definitions of crime in this book are based on the aspects of crime that are not given high considerations in the society. The article illustrates a number of white collar crime definitions and also depicts problems in defining crime. The Australian Law reform commission (2006) also finds difficult to distinguish peoples’ right and freedom from criminal acts punishable by law. The reference also provides a legal definition of the item basing on legal dictionaries and experienced through the Authors’ career life. According to Friedrichs (2009 as quoted in chapter 2 of the book), definitions of crime is beyond the explanations traditionally provided in criminal law and involves more forms of harm. This are the kinds of crimes that the author refer to as the white collar crimes that people commit and get away with them since such behaviors are not covered in terms of the traditional harm based belief of defining crime. Some crimes are classified but others are not (Australian Law reform commission, 2006). The first definition of white collar crime is criminal acts committed by the people or institutions with a high standing in the society who portray less deviance if any (p. 4). Privileged people in the society and the mighty commit crimes that cause adverse injury to the public and although the law has come to acknowledge it as what it is, insignificant criminal actions are taken against the offenders. Such crimes include failure to compensate workers for jobs done or injuries incurred where an employer is charged with negligence on their part, discrimination and harassment. Friedrich (2009, p. 4) classifies white collar crimes as crimes that are well organized with great rationality and persistency. Friedrichs (2009, p. 5) states that these crimes occur in an occupational setting that is significantly legitimate and involves hurting other people more than being deviant. Criminals tend not to deviate from the usual form of behavior. White collar crimes are also defined as acts of violation dealt with in anadministrative setting of law and also in civil law and criminal law. The article illustrates work place violation of rights where employees are not compensated in case of injury or for work done (Friedrichs, 2009, p. 7). According to Wheelwright (2002), companies are liable for injury of employees in case of failure to administer employee training. Another definition of white collar crime is illegal, harmful practices that affect the economic and financial setting. The article states that, offenders in white collar crimes are driven by their goals to be successful occupationally and attain economic gain (Friedrichs, 2009, p. 6). There are problems encountered in the process of defining crime. Law cannot entirely define crime and therefore, there is need to address other crimes not addressed by law. The article addresses this issue as the author states that, crime should be defined based on other measures other than those provided by common law (chapter 2, p. 18). Friedrichs (2009) in his article states that criminologists also argue when it comes to defining crime and this lead to a combined definition from the group of criminologists (Friedrichs, 2009, p. 6). According to Burt (2011), legal definitions crime is based on violation of law. And although some crimes are not specific against the law, they are considered to be wrong according to the society. Chapter 3: Measuring crime Review of this chapter involves an article from the Australian Bureau of statistics published in 2011 entitled ‘The Australian and New Zealand standard offence classification (ANZSOC)’. A review of this article will give a clear illustration of ways in which crime is measured in Australia. It also provides crime and justice statistics in the country. According to this article, criminal behavior can be measured so as to give a standard context for organizing major criminal behaviors and provide standard definition of offences among states. Courts are also categorized in degree of offence committed (Chapter 3, p. 38). Maximum penalty for offenders accused of more than one crime related to property incapacitates any repetition of such crimes for the purpose of protecting the community (Weatherburn, 2006). Detention and supervision is an incapacitation measure for serious sex offenders as provided for in the 2009 Act. The children’s court provides for hearing for cases of children offenders under the age of 18 at the time when they commit an offence and are reported and below 19years when the court proceeding start. The children youth and family act of 2005 is what governs the children court. This Act protects the society from young offenders through selective incapacitation. According to Australian institute of criminology (2004), criminal cases increased since 2002 with most offenders claiming to be under influence of drugs. Different divisions of the criminal body give different types of offences such as offences related to drugs in division 10, homicide division 1 and robbery division 6. This is also provided in chapter 3 (p.35). The article provides that, punishments are instilled depending on the type of offence committed. Deterrence, incapacitation and rehabilitation are used to mage crime. Prisons provide facilities for accommodation of law-proven criminals. Provision of these facilities involves costs but also after math benefits to the general society and the prisoners in general Rehabilitative measures are also other activities in prisons where the criminals are taken through a process of healing and taught how to live without committing crimes. Cost benefit analysis of the use of prisons can involve factors like how costly prisons are compared to community corrections, rate of recidivism, and methods of managing crime such as deterrence, incapacitation and rehabilitation (Australian bureau of statistics, 2011). The article argues that crime serves a purpose within the society. Durkheim (1895/1982) states that the purpose of crime in the society is seen in its role it plays in reshaping the community since it is through punishment that the society reveals a crime. This is attained through punishments. Crime clarifies social norms and creates groups within the society. According to the article, acceptable behavior is distinguished from other kinds of behavior and punishments are instituted so as to serve as warnings against non-acceptable behavior. It is therefore trough punishment that those conforming to acceptable behavior are isolated from members of the society who are non-conforming to societal beliefs and values. The normative theory in relation to crime states that sociological method is based on proofs of people’s feelings, their thoughts and actions but is neither entirely biological nor psychological since facts occurs beyond a person’s conscience (Anleu, 2006). He states that crime or conformity to expect social behavior starts with the individual mind manifested privately and which grows to be collective mind in a social setting through interaction. According to Taylor and Joudo (2005), deviance or conformity to social norms that result to crime is a natural aspect of the society, nonconformity therefore makes individuals victims of crime. List of References Chapter 1 Dowler, K, (2003).Media consumption and public attitudes toward crime and justice: the relationship between fear of crime, punitive attitudes, and perceived police effectiveness. School of criminal justice. Retrieved from: http://www.albany.edu/scj/jcjpc/vol10is2/dowler.pdf Davis, B and Dossetor, K, (2010). Trends and issues in crime and criminal justice: Misperceptions of crime in Australia. Australian government. Retrieved from: http://www.aic.gov.au/documents/F/B/9/%7BFB97F8DD-CE84-4218-90F0-9C072DFD592F%7Dtandi396.pdf The Australian psychological society limited, (2000). Media portrayals of crime. Retrieved from: http://www.psychology.org.au/Assets/Files/media_portrayals_of_crime.pdf Chapter 2 Burt, A, 2011, Critically examine some of the problems involved in defining crime. Retrieved from: http://www.peterjepson.com/law/Xmas1Burt.pdf Friedrichs, D. O 2010, Trusted criminals: White collar crime in contemporary society. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Wheelwright, K 2002, Corporate liability for workplace deaths and injuries-reflecting on Victoria's laws in the light of the Esso Longford explosion.Deakin University, School of Law, Burwood, Vic. Australian law reform commission, 2006, 37. Agencies with Law Enforcement Functions. Australian government.Retrieved from: http://www.alrc.gov.au/publications/37.%20Agencies%20with%20Law%20Enforcement%20Functions/australian-crime-commission Chapter 3 Australian institute of criminology, 2004, 2004 media releases. Australian institute of criminology. Retrieved from: http://www.aic.gov.au/media/2004.html Australian bureau of statistics, 2011,1234.0 - Australian and New Zealand Standard Offence Classification (ANZSOC), 2011. Australian Bureau of statistics. Retrieved from: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/1234.0 Taylor, N and Joudo, J 2005, The impact of pre-recorded video and closed circuit television testimony by adult sexual assault complainants on jury decision-making: An experimental study. Retrieved from: http://aic.gov.au/documents/5/3/4/%7B53472FA7-7F7B-48E8-B0E6-32D816852F89%7DRPP68.pdf Read More