SOCI 2450 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Royal Assent, Social Reality, Retributive Justice
Document Summary
Crime = act against the state, abstract idea, in violation of the law. Crime is an individual act w/ individual responsibilities. Representing interests of the state, not the victims. Offenders are defined by deficits (drug addicts, prostitutes, people who are flawed, losers ) Pain is imposed to punish, deter, and prevent (when in prison) Community is on the sidelines represented abstractly by the state. Focused on offender"s past behaviour (criminal record: not admissible into court until sentencing. Dependence on crime professionals (police & courts) Crime = act against another person or the community. Crime controls lies primarily within the community, not within the. Offender accountability defined as assuming responsibility and taking action to repair harm. Crime has individual and social dimensions of responsibility. Victims = central to process of crime control. Offender is defined by the capacity to make reparation or restitution (restoring both parties) Response is focus on harmful consequences of offenders behaviour.