What is crime?
Warming-up.
What is the importance of the law in our lives?
Under what conditions is it possible to break the law?
Who should create laws in the country?
How to ensure that the law is followed?
Should countries modernize their legal systems?
Do you think that the legalization of narcotics would decrease the crime rate?
Do you think there are any legal drugs that should be illegal?
Do you think there is a link between drugs and crime?
Do you think prostitution is a crime?
Do you think there will be more or less crime in the future?
Do you think your country is a safe place to live? Why or why not?
Read the following text. What are the main types of crimes?
Make sure you understand the meaning of the following words and word-combinations:
an unlawful act
a universally accepted definition
forbidden and punishable by law
to find smb. guilty
to sentence smb. to a community sentence, or, depending on the nature of their offence, to undergo imprisonment,
life imprisonment or, in some jurisdictions, execution.
aggravated assault
prejudices of race, gender or religion
victimless crimes
tax evasion
gambling
money laundering
What is crime?
In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a state or other authority. The term "crime" does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition. The most popular view is that crime is a category created by law; in other words, something is a crime if declared as such by the relevant and applicable law. One proposed definition is that a crime or offence (or criminal offence) is an act harmful not only to some individual but also to a community, society or the state ("a public wrong"). Such acts are forbidden and punishable by law.
The state (government) has the power to severely restrict one's liberty for committing a crime. In modern societies, there are procedures to which investigations and trials must adhere. If found guilty, an offender may be sentenced to a form of reparation such as a community sentence, or, depending on the nature of their offence, to undergo imprisonment, life imprisonment or, in some jurisdictions, execution.
There are many different types of crimes. Here goes the list of some of them.
Crimes Against Persons. Crimes against persons also called personal crimes, include murder, aggravated assault, rape, and robbery.
Crimes Against Property. Property crimes involve theft of property without bodily harm, such as burglary, larceny, auto theft, and arson.
Hate Crimes. Hate crimes are crimes against persons or property that are committed while invoking prejudices of race, gender or gender identity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or ethnicity.
Crimes Against Morality. Crimes against morality are also called victimless crimes because there is no complainant or victim. Prostitution, illegal gambling, and illegal drug use are all examples of victimless crimes.
White-Collar Crime. White-collar crimes are crimes committed by people of high social status who commit their crimes in the context of their occupation. This includes embezzling (stealing money from one’s employer), insider trading, tax evasion, and other violations of income tax laws. These crimes are generally the least investigated and least prosecuted because they are protected by a combination of privileges of race, class, and gender.
Organized Crime. Organized crime is committed by structured groups typically involving the distribution and sale of illegal goods and services. Many people think of the Mafia when they think of organized crime, but the term can refer to any group that exercises control over large illegal enterprises (such as the drug trade, illegal gambling, prostitution, weapons smuggling, or money laundering).
Questions to discuss.
- What do you think the most common crime in your country is?
- Should police in your country be stricter or less strict?
- Is your country a safe country?
- Have you ever seen a crime?
- Do you think criminals can change?
- Is shoplifting common in your country?
- What kind of people shoplift and what kinds of things do they steal?
- Does your country have a big organized crime group like the mafia?
- What is the best way for police to keep neighborhoods safe?
- Can you tell if a kid will grow up to be a criminal?
- Do you walk alone at night in your home city?
- Does prison help rehabilitate criminals? Should it?
- Have you ever been the victim of a crime? How about others in your family?
- Have you ever done anything illegal? If so, what did you do?
- Have you ever had anything stolen?