The Concept of Crime
What is a Crime?
A crime is an offence against the public law. It is an act committed or omitted in violation of a law forbidding or commanding it and for which punishment is imposed upon conviction. Crimes violate the law and order of a society and it negatively affects the social structure and the society’s fundamental values, morale and belief system. The concept of Crime can vary from society to Society
The crimes are events and actions that are proscribed by the criminal law of a particular country (Wilkins 1968) In general, the society and its existing laws define crime. Sometimes crime in one society may not be seen as an offence in another society. Sometimes acts of crime depend on the socio-cultural values, religious belief systems and political ideology. At times crimes vary to society-to-society. Therefore, crime in one society may not be regarded as a crime in another society. For instance, homosexuality is a punishable offence in Iran and gay people are viewed as criminals. Under the Iranian law, if they found guilty they can be sent to jail. In the western society, gay people have rights and any action that discriminate them can be challenged in the court of law. Bigamy is an offence in the Western world and those who violate marital law can be prosecuted. However, in some countries bigamy or polygamy is not an offence and on most occasions treated as a social norm. In countries like Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Yemen etc under the Islamic law polygamy is permitted but under specific conditions. Pedophilia is rejected by most of the contemporary societies and it is considered as a crime. But In the ancient Sparta sexual acts with children were considered as norm and it was widely practiced. When the prohibition laws were in action in the USA (from 1919 to 1933) the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol were banned nationally. Any people involved in such action were prosecuted. During the Soviet era any person tried to
A crime is an offence against the public law. It is an act committed or omitted in violation of a law forbidding or commanding it and for which punishment is imposed upon conviction. Crimes violate the law and order of a society and it negatively affects the social structure and the society’s fundamental values, morale and belief system. The concept of Crime can vary from society to Society
The crimes are events and actions that are proscribed by the criminal law of a particular country (Wilkins 1968) In general, the society and its existing laws define crime. Sometimes crime in one society may not be seen as an offence in another society. Sometimes acts of crime depend on the socio-cultural values, religious belief systems and political ideology. At times crimes vary to society-to-society. Therefore, crime in one society may not be regarded as a crime in another society. For instance, homosexuality is a punishable offence in Iran and gay people are viewed as criminals. Under the Iranian law, if they found guilty they can be sent to jail. In the western society, gay people have rights and any action that discriminate them can be challenged in the court of law. Bigamy is an offence in the Western world and those who violate marital law can be prosecuted. However, in some countries bigamy or polygamy is not an offence and on most occasions treated as a social norm. In countries like Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Yemen etc under the Islamic law polygamy is permitted but under specific conditions. Pedophilia is rejected by most of the contemporary societies and it is considered as a crime. But In the ancient Sparta sexual acts with children were considered as norm and it was widely practiced. When the prohibition laws were in action in the USA (from 1919 to 1933) the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol were banned nationally. Any people involved in such action were prosecuted. During the Soviet era any person tried to