This document provides an overview and revision of key topics in crime and deviance, including: definitions of crime and deviance; methods of measuring crime through official statistics, victim surveys, and self-report studies; explanations for crime and deviance from theorists like Cohen and Marxists; methods of social control including formal control by police and informal control through social approval; and characteristics of typical crime offenders. The document outlines the main sections to be revised and provides brief explanations of important concepts and theorists to help understand and apply the information to exam questions.

1. -To know the key ideas in crime and deviance-To be able to apply the information to an exam questionCrime and Deviance REVISION

2. Sections of the courseWhat is crime and deviance?How do we measure crime?How do we explain crime and deviance?How do we control anti-social behaviour?Who commits crime?Social research and crime and deviance.Complete your crime and deviance knowledge audit

3. What is crime and deviance?Crime-Behaviour that breaks the law.Deviance-Behaviour that does not conform to the dominant norms of a specific society.TIME- (when the act takes place) is there a difference between drinking alcohol at 9am compared to 9pm?PLACE- (where the act takes place) a person being naked on a nudist beach compared to a football match.SOCIAL SITUATION- (context) wearing a bright yellow mini skirt to go out compared to wearing it at a funeral.CULTURE- the use of cannabis is legal in some places e.g. in some Arab states. However, drinking alcohol there is a serious crime.These concepts are not universally understood

4. How do we measure crime?Official statistics-They are drawn from the records kept by the police and other official agencies.They are published by the home office annually.

5. They are cheap and easy to obtain and comparisons can be made over time.Problems-Not all crime is detected.-Even if it is it may not be reported.-The police may not record it.

6. We can also...Ask the victimAsk the criminalVictim surveys-Large scale surveys where people are asked about what crimes have been committed against them. E.G. The British Crime survey.- It includes crimes not reported to the police so it is an important source of data.Self report studies-Criminals are asked to tick off offences from a list. This is done anonymously. These reports suggest that criminal activity is more common that official statistics indicate.

7. How do we explain crime and deviance?Key namesCOHEN- some groups are labelled by the mediaMARXISTS- people are ‘told’ by the media what they need to be successful, but not everyone can achieve it.

8. How do we control anti-social behaviour?Remember there are two types of control.FORMAL and INFORMALFormal is control that is exerted on society through organisations such as the police.Informal is based on approval/ disproval from those around us.

9. Who commits crime?