WHAT IS CRIME

Pre-reading tasks.

1. Read and translate the text.

2. Write out of the text and transcribe all the words meaning crimes, learn them.

3. Make a structural-logical scheme of the text.

4. Retell the text according to the plan.

Despite a criminal justice system existing in any society to maintain social control, crime is still a fact of our life. Crime is an action or omission involving a violation of law that may be prosecuted by the state and is punishable by formal sanctions (fines, arrest, imprisonment, capital punishment, etc.).

There are three classifications of crime: felonies, misdemeanors and infractions. Felonies typically involving violence are the most serious of the three, and are usually punishable by imprisonment for more than one year or even by death. Misdemeanor crimes are less serious than felonies; most misdemeanors are punishable with sentences less than a year in length and often include a fine. Misdemeanors can also be resolved with probation, community service or treatment programs. Typically, felonies and misdemeanors are divided according to what is threatened: people or property.

Infractions are violations of state or municipal civil law; there is no jail time associated with it. Examples of civil infractions are: jaywalking, speeding ticket[1], not wearing a seat belt, littering, building code violations, disturbing the peace. People who commit civil infractions, will receive fines as punishment. Certain infractions aren't even considered crimes.

In criminal law, a crime against the person usually refers to a crime which is committed by direct physical harm or force being applied to another person. They are usually subdivided into fatal offences, sexual offences, non-fatal non-sexual offences. The category of crimes against the person comprises: fatal offences, murder, kidnapping, manslaughter, DUI[2], rape, non-fatal non-sexual offences, assault, battery[3], wounding or wounding with intent, poisoning, etc.

Sex crimes are forms of human sexual behavior that are crimes. Someone who commits one is said to be a sex offender. Some sex crimes are crimes of violence that involve sex (for ex., a rape charge when a person(s) of any age does not provide consent for sexual activity). Others are violations of social taboos, such as incest, sodomy[4], indecent exposure[5] or exhibitionism.

There is much variation among cultures as to what is considered a crime or not, and in what ways or to what extent crimes are punished. As a general rule, the law in many countries often forbids sexual activity involving young or adolescent children below the legal age of consent, or illicit watching of sexual activity, sex with close relatives (incest), necrophilia, and also when there is harassment, nuisance, fear, injury, or assault of a sexual nature, or serious risk of abuse of certain professional relationships. Separately, the law usually regulates or controls the censorship of pornographic or obscene material as well.

Property crime involves taking of money or property, and does not involve force or threat of force against a victim. It takes many forms. For example, pickpocketing is taking money from someone's pocket or bag in a public place without them noticing. Shoplifting is stealing goods from shelves of shops. Mugging is taking someone's money in the street with threats of violence. Although robbery involves taking property, it is classified as a violent crime, as force or threat of force on an individual is involved in contrast to burglary. Burglary is breaking in or breaking into houses or other buildings, entering them by force, in order to steal things in a break-in. Theft is often used in combination such as these: petty theft or minor theft, where the things stolen are not very valuable; serious theft, where the things stolen are valuable. Car theft includes joy riding: stealing a car for pleasure of driving it, often at very high speeds, and car jacking, stealing a car, sometimes at gunpoint, when its driver is in it. Other property crimes include larceny, arson, shoplifting, vandalism, etc.

Practically all abovementioned crimes involve criminal intent. Among the crimes that do not involve criminal intent are prostitution, drug use, gambling. These acts are criminal because the community regards them as morally repugnant. Society should control these acts since they do have harmful effects – prostitutes spread AIDS, drug users may resort to other crimes to support their habit.

The majority of modern countries face a problem of organised crime (that operates for profit or power and that wants to get immunity from the law through fear and corruption). It specializes in providing illegal goods and services (for example drug trafficking or human trafficking), getting monopolies by threatening violence against the potential competitors. Another growing source of public concern has been growth of corruption and abuse of authority.

The crime situation in many countries is serious. Sociological studies suggest that crime rates can be cut when police collaborate with the community in an effort to eliminate some of the causes of crime. Some sociologists also believe that alternatives to traditional prisons maybe more effective in rehabilitating criminals and seeing that they repay their debts to society.

Sources:

1. // http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime#Classification_and_categorisation

2. Focus on sociology

3. // http://criminal-defense.avvo.com/types-of-crime#guide_20755

[1] speeding ticket- талон предупреждения (в связи с фактом превышения скорости)

[2] DUI от driving under the influence - управление автомобилем под воздействием алкоголя или наркотических средств

[3] побои, оскорбление действием

[4] sodomy ['sɔdəmɪ] - содомия, противоестественные половые сношения

[5] indecent exposure - появление в общественном месте в непристойном виде

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14