Crime, defined, is an act of wrongdoing against our public laws. Public laws are the written rules of society, which are decided by congress, and tell citizens what they can and cannot do to each other. Many fear that without public laws to define a sense of accepted public behavior there would be total chaos, and constant fear in the world. When a crime is committed, the legal statues decide what the punishment should be for breaking the law. In other words it is our legal statues which uphold our common laws.
Misdemeanors and Felonies
Minor crimes or less serious crimes are called misdemeanors, and usually are crimes against property. Misdemeanors are often punishable by a fine, community service, or less than one year in jail. Major crimes are more serious crimes and are called felonies. A felony is likely a crime committed by one or more people against one or more people and if convicted is punishable by a minimum of one year in jail.
People convicted of felonies may lose certain rights or privileges due to the seriousness of the crime they committed. One privilege people who are convicted of felonies lose is the privilege to run for and hold public office. Convicted felons do not get to vote in elections, and convicted sex offenders or violent felons are usually required to register with local law enforcement once released from jail.
Being ignorant of the law is no excuse. Everyone is expected to know how the laws apply to them personally. Ignorance is never an excuse for unknowingly breaking a law or committing a crime. However, common sense and good intuition will usually keep most people out of trouble and out of jail.
Crimes of Omission and Association
Usually a crime is defined by the act that is committed, yet it can be a crime to not act in some situations. This is called an act of omission or when someone does not perform an act that is expected of them in a particular situation. For instance, if a child needs medical attention and the parent refuses to get the child the medical care they need, then the parent is committing an act of omission. The same would include if a parent does not feed or clothe the child properly. Then the parent is neglectful in their duties as a parent. By omitting the needed care the child deserves, the parent is committing a crime of neglect.
A crime by association is when someone is with the person or persons who are committing the crime, even if the person is unaware there may be a crime being committed. For instance someone living in a home where a meth lab is being run out of the basement but that person never goes into the basement will likely be arrested if the house is raided by law enforcement, even if he or she claims to not have known what was happening in the basement. This is especially true of the person is the owner of the home.
Cyber Crimes and High Tech Crimes
Yet, how crimes are being committed is changing. Violent crimes against people have been declining over the last few years (although if you watch the news this is difficult to believe). There are new types of crimes developing across America and the world in general. The fastest growing crimes currently are computer crimes, also called cybercrimes. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) refers to these types of crimes as high-tech crimes. This is to be expected considering our world is growing by leaps and bounds when it comes to technology. Technology is everywhere we go at home, school, work, stores, and even when we go on vacations.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) “we lead the national effort to investigate high-tech crimes, including cyber-based terrorism, computer intrusions, online sexual exploitation, and major cyber frauds. To stay in front of emerging trends, we gather and share information and intelligence with public and private sector partner’s worldwide.” The FBI is helping law enforcement to take a new outlook on the way law enforcement will handle cybercriminals. It is estimated that it won’t be long before each one of us or a loved one is affected by cybercrimes including, identity theft, hacking, phishing, cyber stalking, or cyber sexual solicitation.
Now is the time to learn how to protect yourself both online and off. Learn how to keep your private information private and watch what you do online. Teach children how to respond to cyber bullying and pedophiles that are looking for their next victim in teen chat rooms. Tell children to log off the computer if something someone says or asks makes them feel uncomfortable.
Sources:
- Child Welfare Information Gateway “Acts of Omission: An Overview of Child Neglect” (accessed November 28, 2010).
- Federal Bureau of Investigation "Cyber Crime" (accessed November 28, 2010).
Erika Lyn Smith - Erika Lyn Smith - is a Psych RN, who has completed the UMSL Medicolegal Death Investigator Training Course, and is finishing a BS in ...
