You Have Been Asked To Explain The Differences Betwee 190307
You Have Been Asked To Explain The Differences Between Certain Categor
You have been asked to explain the differences between certain categories of crimes. For each of the following categories of crime, provide a general definition of the category of crime and give at least 2 detailed examples of specific crimes that fall into each category: Violent crimes, Crimes against persons, Crimes against property, Crimes of public morality, White-collar crime, Cyber crime. Then, for the following scenarios, discuss the categories of crimes involved in each scenario, and explain the specific criminal charges that you would apply to each scenario. You can utilize the Library, Internet, and other resources to research the criminal statutes of a state of your choice to help you determine which criminal charges should be applied: David S. was running around a public park at 3 AM without his clothes on, singing and shouting loudly. Police arrived after neighbors called to complain. They saw David S. tipping over a garbage can and when they shouted for him to stop, he threw the garbage can into a car, breaking one of its side windows. The police arrested David S. His blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit. Gary M. was arrested by the FBI when he showed up at a local mall to meet a 14-year-old girl for a date, which he arranged over the Internet. He didn't know that the “14-year-old girl" was actually a 35-year-old male FBI agent. Elaine R. was an accountant working for a large corporation. She had been falsifying the accounting records and sending some of the corporate funds to her own bank accounts in an offshore bank. The corporation found out what she had been doing and reported her to the police. Your complete answer to this assignment should be 1–3 pages.
Paper For Above instruction
Understanding the different categories of crimes is fundamental in the field of criminal justice, as it helps define the boundaries of lawful behavior and the consequences of unlawful actions. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of six major crime categories: violent crimes, crimes against persons, crimes against property, crimes of public morality, white-collar crimes, and cybercrimes. It also analyzes specific scenarios to identify the relevant crime categories and applicable criminal charges based on statutory laws.
Categories of Crime: Definitions and Examples
Violent Crimes
Violent crimes involve the use of force or threat of force against persons. These crimes threaten or cause physical harm to individuals and are considered some of the most serious offenses. Examples include homicide, assault, and kidnapping. Homicide encompasses murder and manslaughter, where an individual intentionally or negligently causes the death of another person. Assault involves intentionally maiming, beating, or threatening harm, with examples like aggravated assault and simple assault. Kidnapping involves unlawfully seizing or carrying away a person against their will.
Crimes Against Persons
Crimes against persons focus specifically on offenses that result in physical or mental harm to individuals. While similar to violent crimes, this category emphasizes acts that directly harm people's health or safety. Examples include domestic violence and sexual assault. Domestic violence involves abuse or threat of violence within a domestic setting, whereas sexual assault involves non-consensual sexual contact or behavior.
Crimes Against Property
Crimes against property involve interference with another person’s right to use or enjoy their property. These crimes do not necessarily involve physical harm to individuals but damage or deprive owners of their property rights. Examples include burglary, theft, arson, and vandalism. Burglary involves unlawful entry into a building with intent to commit a crime, typically theft. Arson involves intentionally setting fire to property, causing damage or destruction.
Crimes of Public Morality
Crimes of public morality pertain to offenses that violate societal standards of decent behavior, often involving issues of morality, religion, or public order. Examples include public drunkenness and disorderly conduct. Public drunkenness involves being intoxicated in public to an extent that it causes disturbances or is considered threatening to public safety. Indecent exposure is another example, involving exposing oneself in public in a lewd or indecent manner.
White-Collar Crime
White-collar crimes are non-violent, financially motivated offenses committed by individuals, businesses, or government officials in positions of trust or authority. They typically involve deceit, concealment, or breach of trust. Examples include embezzlement and insider trading. Embezzlement involves illegally taking property entrusted to an individual in a professional capacity. Insider trading involves trading stocks or other securities based on confidential information.
Cyber Crime
Cyber crimes involve criminal activities carried out via the internet or computer networks. These crimes often target information systems, financial data, or personal information. Examples include hacking and identity theft. Hacking involves unauthorized access to or manipulation of computer systems, while identity theft involves stealing personal information to commit fraud or other crimes.
Analysis of Scenarios and Applicable Charges
Scenario 1: David S. in the Park
David S.’s behavior—running around a public park at 3 a.m. unclothed, singing and shouting loudly, tipping over a garbage can, and throwing it into a car—reflects multiple criminal categories. His actions constitute public disorder and property damage. His intoxication, with a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit, suggests possible charges of public intoxication or disorderly conduct. Specifically, the act of running unclothed in public could be charged as public nudity or indecent exposure, depending on jurisdiction. The tipping over the garbage can and damaging the vehicle falls under criminal mischief or vandalism, which involve intentionally damaging property. His aggressive acts and loud behaviors could also lead to charges of disorderly conduct or disturbing the peace, especially since neighbors called authorities. If his intoxication led to dangerous conduct, he might also face charges related to endangering public safety.
Scenario 2: Gary M. and the Online Meeting
Gary M.’s online rendezvous with a person he believed to be a minor but was actually an FBI agent constitutes criminal attempts related to child solicitation, grooming, and potentially attempted enticement of a minor. Laws in most jurisdictions criminalize attempts to solicit minors for sexual purposes. Since the recruit was an FBI operative, the charges would likely be conspiracy or attempt to commit a crime, specifically attempted sexual exploitation or child solicitation, both of which are serious felonies. The scenario also indicates the use of electronic communication devices, supporting charges related to cybercrime and digital offenses.
Scenario 3: Elaine R. and Financial Fraud
Elaine R.’s act of falsifying accounting records and diverting company funds to offshore accounts falls under white-collar crime, specifically embezzlement and securities fraud. Embezzlement involves the fraudulent appropriation of funds entrusted to her, while securities fraud relates to deceptive practices in the buying or selling of securities, often tied to misrepresentations or concealment of material information. Her actions breach trust and involve breach of fiduciary duty, often resulting in criminal charges that can include felony counts, depending on the amount of money involved and the laws of the jurisdiction.
Conclusion
The distinctions among various crime categories are essential for effective law enforcement, legal adjudication, and understanding societal norms. Violent crimes and crimes against persons involve harm or threat to individual safety, while property crimes focus on damage or theft. Crimes of public morality regulate social order and decency, whereas white-collar and cyber crimes involve deception and digital misconduct. Recognizing these categories allows for appropriate legal responses, as exemplified by the scenarios discussed, illustrating how specific charges align with different behaviors under the law.
References
- Siegel, L. J. (2019). Criminology: The Core. Cengage Learning.
- Schmidt, P. (2020). White-Collar Crime. Oxford University Press.
- Friedman, L. M., & Schwartz, R. (2018). Criminal Law and Procedure. West Academic Publishing.
- Hacker, S. (2021). Cyber Security and Crime. Routledge.
- Beckett, H. (2017). Crime and Society. Sage Publications.
- Horgan, J., & Kennedy, M. (2018). Forensic Criminology. CRC Press.
- Potter, G. (2020). Crime Types and Criminal Law Statutes. Harvard University Press.
- Shapiro, S., & Marques, K. (2020). Crime in the Digital Age. Springer.
- United States Department of Justice. (2023). Crime Classification Manual. DOJ Publications.
- Williams, P. (2021). Understanding Criminal Behavior. Sage Publications.