What type of conduct amounts to a crime

First, then, as to the type of conduct* that is a crime. Legal systems largely agree about this:

• conduct that by causing or threatening harm* creates insecurity;

• conduct that causes offence*, and

• conduct that undermines* the working of society, its government and
economy.

Law make conduct criminal if by causing or threatening harm it creates a sence of insecurity. What counts as harm depends to some extent on what each society thinks is objectionable. But behaviour that strikes at people's lives and bodies, their property or the safety of the whole community is everywhere regarded as harmful.

To begin with people's lives and bodies, all countries make it a crime intentionally to kill another person (murder) or to wound* them. It is also a crime to threaten someone in such a way that they think that they are about to be killed or wounded (assault). Equally or more dusturbing is forcing someone to have sexual intercourse against their will (rape).

We all have an interest in other people not being murdered, wounded or raped not only ourselves and our families. In practice, however, the state and its officials often cannot prosecute the wrongdoer* unless the victim* (for example the woman raped) reports what has happened and gives evidence* against her attacker.

The crimes mentioned are offences against out bodies or persons*. There are also offences against property*. Property is an element of stability in people's lives, whether they are rich or poor. Theft* is in all countries a crime.

Notes

conduct — поведение

cause harm — причинять вред, ущерб

threaten harm — угрожать нанесением вреда, ущерба

cause offence — совершать преступление

undermine — подрывать, наносить вред

wound — ранить

prosecute the wrongdoer — преследовать нарушителя в судебневй

порядке victim — жертва

give evidence — давать показания

offences against bodies or persons - преступления против личности offences against property — преступления против собственное^ theft — воровство

CHIME

At the basic level, crime and crime rates* in the U.S. are reported under two general categories. One is "violent crime"* (against individuals) and the other is "property crime". Violent crime includes murder* and manslaughter*, rape*, robbery*, and assault*. Property crimes include burglary*, larceny* and theft*, and motor vehicle theft*.

There is however enormous variation within the U.S. in crime and crime rates — geographically, economically, and socially.

There are figures, and many studies, which show who in the U.S. is most affected by crime. Such "victim studies" indicate differences by race or ethnic group, sex and age. Again, there are great differences, some extreme. Taking murder and manslaughter as an example, it can be seen that black males are much more likely to be murdered than black females, white males, or white females.

First, actual research has focused on a large number of possible causes. Among the most frequently studied are unemployment, poverty, education level and educational opportunity, drug abuse* and drug dealing*, racism, ethnic and cultural attitudes, easy availability of weapons, consumerism and the media, ineffective courts and policing, poor prisons, single-parent families and unwed mothers, youth gangs. Each of these possible causes is the subject of serious debate. There are many scholarly works which try to identify the causes of crime in America, and to determine what must, could, or can be done.

Notes

crime rates — рост преступности

violent crime — преступление против личности, насильственное

преступление

property crime — преступление против собственности murder — тяжкое убийство manslaughter — простое убийство (убийство, совершенное без

злого предумышления) rape — изнасилование robbery — грабеж assault — нападение burglary — кража со взломом larceny — хищение theft — воровство

motor vehicle theft — угон средств передвижения drug abuse — алкогольная зависимость drug dealing — наркоторговля