Mens rea (Latin for Guilty Mind) awareness of wrongdoing; the intention to
commit a criminal act or behave recklessly
Example: Ms. Lambert moved to Los Angeles and was convicted of an offense created by the city ordinance of not registering with the police as a person previously convicted of a crime. No one can be guilty of a crime unless he or she acted with the knowledge of doing something wrong. Strict liability Liability for a crime or violation imposed without regard to the actors guilt; criminal liability without mens rea. Example: courts require no showing of criminal intent or mens rea. These crimes can range from distributing food to running a red light. Torts an injury or wrong committed against another, subject to compensation; an infringement of the rights of an individual that is not founded on either contract or criminal law prohibition. Example: Car accident Felonies a severe crime, subject to punishment of 1 year or more in prison or to capital punishment Example: Murder Misdemeanors a crime less serious than a felony and subject to a maximum sentence of one year in jail or a fine Example: Prostitution Violations minor criminal offense, usually under a city ordinance, commonly subject to only a fine Example: Speeding Theory a coherent group of propositions used as principals in explaining or accounting for known facts or phenomenon Hypothesis a proposition set forth as an explanation for some specified phenomenon Data collected facts, observations, and other pertinent information in which conclusions can be drawn Primary data facts and observations that researchers gather by conducting their own measurements for a study Survey the systematic collection of information by asking questions in questionnaires or interviews
Population a large group of persons in a study
Sample a selected subset of a population to be studied Experiments a research technique in which an investigator introduces a change into a process in order to make measurements or observations that evaluate the effects if change Random sample a sample chosen in such a way as to ensure that each person in the population to be studied has an equal chance of being selected Field experiment an experiment conducted in a real-world setting, as opposed to one conducted in a laboratory Participant observation collection of information through involvement in the social life of the group a researcher is studying Nonparticipant observation a study in which investigators observe closely but do not become participants Case study an analysis of all pertinent aspects of one unit of study Index crimes eight major crimes included in Part 1 of the Uniform Crime Reports: criminal homicide, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny theft, auto theft and arson Crimes against the person crimes violative of life or physical integrity Crimes against property crimes involving the illegal acquisition or destruction of property Victimization surveys a survey that measures the extent of crime by interviewing individuals about their experiences as victims Self-report surveys a survey in which respondents answer in a confidential interview or, most often, by completing an anonymous questionnaire Aging-out phenomenon a concept that holds that offenders commit less crime as they get older because they have less strength, initiative, stamina, and mobility Criminal careers a concept that describes the onset of criminal activity, the types and amount of crime committed, and the termination of such activity Longitudinal studies an analysis that focuses on studies of a particular group conducted repeatedly over a period of time Birth cohort a group consisting of all individuals born in the same year