Myths and Reality of Crime

As we learn in the video, Crimes of the Powerful (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site., our justice system tends to focus on street crime, often ignoring much more significant problems such as white-collar, corporate, and state crime. The video also discusses euthanasia, although the point of this reference is to illustrate how the law can be used as a tool for social change. The video also discusses moral values with a focus on media coverage of harm to children. Laws have changed in direct response to these incidents and the resulting media coverage. In effect, this coverage becomes an engine for social change. The video ends with a discussion of crime theory, reminding us that many criminological theories fall short when applied to people with wealth and high status.

Write a paper discussing the myths and realities of crime. Please elaborate on the following points in your essay:

Imagine asking 100 strangers to describe a criminal. Predict whether those descriptions would be likely to focus on street criminals, or the variety of topics covered in this video.
Describe how society defines crime. Do not provide a definition – instead, explain how the definition is reached.
Discuss how society decides what to define as a crime.
Present a clear statement about a particular crime, something we know to be absolutely true. Illustrate how we know that this is an accurate statement.
Present an example of a widely held myth or misconception about crime and society. Determine how we know that this is a myth. Explain why this myth is so difficult to abandon.

The paper must be three to four pages in length and formatted according to APA style. You must use at least two scholarly resources other than the textbook to support your claims and sub-claims. Cite your resources in text and on the reference page. For information regarding APA samples and tutorials, visit the Ashford Writing Center, within the Learning Resources tab on the left navigation toolbar, in your online course.

Solution Preview

Introduction

A criminal. The general public defines a criminal differently. Muggers, kidnappers, looters and other ordinary law-breakers are the main focus in the description of the criminal. The society understands that’s whoever causes physical harm, forcefully takes the property of another person, with or without the knowledge of the affected person befits the title criminal (Ainsworth, 2000).

The Misconception

Crime has been understood differently by many, the levels and differences not clearly differentiated. Majority of the people are aware of the street crime, which involves the commonly known acts such as robbery, drive-bys, mugging and other common acts that involve the acquisition of property that is not worked for or legally attained.

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