This document summarizes a chapter from a criminology textbook about public order crimes such as prostitution, pornography, and substance abuse. It discusses how these acts are considered crimes due to social harm even if they do not directly harm victims. The chapter examines legal definitions and controls on various public order crimes and debates around legalizing acts like prostitution and drugs. It also outlines different types of sex offenders, prostitutes, and drug users as well as historical drug laws and various strategies for controlling substance abuse.

1. Chapter 13 -
Public Order Crimes
Michelle Palaro
Criminology 81-220-1
Fall 2014

2. Law and Morality
• Public Order Crimes
– Behavior that is outlawed because it
threatens the general well-being of
society and challenges its accepted
moral principles
– Sometimes referred to as victimless
crimes

3. Law and Morality
• Criminal or Immoral?
– Social harm
• Immoral acts can be distinguished from
crimes on the basis of the injury they
cause:
– Acts that cause harm or injury are outlawed
and punished as crimes
– Acts, even those that are vulgar, offensive,
and depraved, are not outlawed or
punished if they harm no one

4. Law and Morality
• Moral Crusaders and Moral Crusades
–Moral Entrepreneurs
• Harry Potter
• Abortion
• The gay marriage crusade

5. Sex-Related Offenses
• High-profile abductions
– Jaycee Lee Dugard
– Elizabeth Smart

6. Paraphilias
• Bizarre or abnormal sexual practices that
may involve nonhuman objects,
humiliation, or children
• Outlawed paraphilias
– Frotteurism
– Voyeurism
– Exhibitionism
– Sadomasochism
– Pedophilia

7. Paraphilias
• Pedophilia
– Form of paraphilia that most concerns
the general public
• Both men and women participate
• May have a genetic or cognitive
development link

8. Prostitution
• Activity that has sexual significance
for the customer
• Economic transaction
• Emotional indifference
• Incidence of prostitution
– E-hooking
– Prostitution abroad

9. Prostitution
• Types of Prostitutes
– Streetwalkers
– Bar girls
– Brothel prostitutes
– Call girls
– Escort services/call houses
– Circuit travelers
– Cyber prostitutes

10. Prostitution
• Becoming a Prostitute
– Dangers of sex work
• Controlling Prostitution
–Mann Act (1925)
– Today prostitution is a misdemeanor
and is punishable by a fine or short jail
sentence

11. Prostitution
• Legalize Prostitution?
– Sexual equality
– Free choice
– Abuse
– Long-lasting victimization
– Harassment
– Exploitation
– Rape

12. Pornography
• Pornography
– Sexually explicit books, magazines,
films, and DVDs intended to provide
sexual titillation and excitement for
paying customers
• Obscenity
–Material that violates community
standards of morality or decency and
has no redeeming social value

13. Pornography
• Is pornography harmful?
• Does pornography cause violence?
• Pornography and the law
–Miller v. California
– The law and kiddie porn
– Can pornography be controlled?

14. Substance Abuse
• When did drug use begin?
• Alcohol and its prohibition
• Extent of substance abuse
– Alcohol abuse
– Binge drinking
– Heavy drinking

15. Substance Abuse

16. Substance Abuse
• Causes of substance abuse
– Subcultural view
– Psychological view
– Genetic factors
– Social learning
– Problem behavior syndrome (PBS)
– Rational choice
– Is there a single “cause” of drug abuse?

17. Substance Abuse
• Drugs and Crime
– Substance abuse appears to be heavily
linked to crime
– There are different kinds of drug users
but not all commit crimes
– There are differences in criminality
among drug users

18. Substance Abuse
• Drugs and the Law
– Pure Food and Drug Act (1906)
– Harrison Narcotics Act (1914)
–Marijuana Tax Act (1937)
– Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention
and Control Act (1970)
– Anti-Drug Abuse Act (1988)

19. Substance Abuse
• Drug Control Strategies
– Source control
– Interdiction strategies
– Law enforcement strategies
– Punishment strategies
– Community strategies
– Drug education and prevention strategies
– Drug-testing programs
– Treatment strategies
– Employment programs

20. Substance Abuse
• Legalization of Drugs
– War on drugs has cost more than $500
billion in the past 20 years
–More people die each year from use of
legal drugs than of illegal drugs

21. Substance Abuse