What is Crime?

Crime is the breaking of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction. Crimes may also result in cautions, rehabilitation or be unenforced. Individual human societies may each define crime and crimes differently, in different localities, at different time stages of the so-called "crime", from planning, disclosure, supposedly intended, supposedly prepared, incomplete, and complete or future proclaimed after the "crime". While every crime violates the law, not every violation of the law counts as a crime; for example: breaches of contract and of other civil law may rank as "offences" or as "infractions". Modern societies generally regard crimes as offences against the public or the state, as distinguished from torts.

What is Deviance? The word deviance connotes odd or unacceptable behavior, but in the sociological sense of the word, deviance is simply any violation of societys norms. Deviance can range from something minor, such as a traffic violation, to something major, such as murder. Each society defines what is deviant and what is not, and definitions of deviance differ widely between societies. For example, some societies have much more stringent rules regarding gender roles than we have in the United States, and still other societies rules governing gender roles are less stringent than ours. Deviance is any behavior that violates social norms, and is usually of sufficient severity to warrant disapproval from the majority of society. Deviance can be criminal or non-criminal. The sociological discipline that deals with crime is criminology. Today, Americans consider such activities as alcoholism, excessive gambling, being nude in public places, playing with fire, stealing, lying, refusing to bathe, purchasing the services of prostitutes, and cross-dressingto name only a fewas deviant. People who engage in deviant behavior are referred to as deviants.

What is the difference between Crime and Deviance? Deviance is violation of social norms whereas crime is violation of laws of the land. Agents of control for deviance are societal pressure and fear of Gods whereas agents of control for crime are police and judiciary. Society has no coercive power to deal with deviance but governments have the power of punishment to tackle crime.

 Deviance can be criminal or non criminal, but crime is always criminal in nature. Many behaviors that were crimes earlier have today become deviant behaviors. Violation of law makes deviance a crime. Deviance is not considered as severe as a crime.

The Social Functions of Crime and Deviance

Promote Social Unity Emile Durkheim observed, deviance helps unify a group. An us against them attitude reinforces the sense of community and the belief in shared values. Clarifying Norms Crime and Deviance both serve to define the boundaries of acceptable behavior. When rules are broken, members of society are reminded of the norms that guide social life; the punishment serves as a warning to others that certain behaviors will not be accepted by society. Promotes Social Change Groups do not always agree on what to do when their boundaries are pushed and deviated. Social deviance may force a group to rethink and redefine its moral boundaries. Identifying Problems Deviance can help bring about social change by identifying problem areas. When a particular is violated by a large number of people, it often is indication that something in the organization of society needs to be changed. Providing Jobs Judge, Lawyers, police officers, prison personnel, parole officers, manufactures of electronic security systems, the scientists who study criminal behavior all have legitimate jobs based on the existence of deviance.