Module 4: Crime Concepts

OVERVIEW

This chapter is about informal relationships prove insufficient to establish and

maintain a desired social order, a government or a state may impose more formalized
or stricter systems of social control. With institutional and legal machinery at their
disposal, agents of the state can compel populations to conform to codes and can opt to
punish or attempt to reform those who do not conform.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Recognized the other sociological causes of crimes and other factors of crime
causation;
2. Analyzed the crime concepts including its definition and elements;
3. Identified the three ingredients of crime and the distinction of crime and
morality crime and sin.

DISCUSSION

Definition of Crime

Crime is any rational human conduct that violates a criminal law and is subject to
punishment (Adler, Mueller & Laufer, 1995).

Crime is defined as an act committed or omitted in violation of a public law

forbidding or commanding it and for which punishment is imposed upon conviction
(American Heritage Dictionary).

Crime is an act or omission prohibited by law. It is also defined as an act that

violates the law of the nation (Inciardi, 2005).

Crime is an variation of societal rules of behaviors as interpreted and expressed

by the criminal law, which reflects public opinion, traditional values and the viewpoint of
people presently holding social and political power. Individuals who violate these rules
are subject to sanctions by state authority, social stigma, and loss of status (Siegel,
2007).

In legal terms, crime is an intentional violation of the criminal law or penal code,
committed without defense or excuse and penalized by the states.

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Crime is an intentional act or omission in violation of criminal law (statutory and

case law), committed without defense or justification and sanctioned by the state as a
felony or misdemeanor (Reid, 1997).

Within the social context, crime is a behavior that violates the norms of society –
or, more simply, antisocial behavior or deviance.

A norm is any standard or rule regarding what human beings or should not think,
say, or do under given circumstances (Bohm & Haley, 2002).

Deviance refers to conduct which the people of a group consider so dangerous

or embarrassing or irritating that they bring special sanction to hear against the persons
who exhibit it. It should be noted though that not all deviant behavior is criminal behavior
(Inciardi, 2005).

Elements of Crime

Technically and ideally, a crime has not been committed unless all of the
following elements are present:

1. Harm – For crime to occur, there must be an external consequence or harm. A

mental or emotional state is not enough. Thus, thinking about committing a crime or
being angry enough to commit, a crime, without acting on the thought or that anger, is
not a crime. The harm maybe physical or verbal.

2. Legality – This has two aspects. First, the harm, must be legally forbidden for a
behavior to be crime. Thus violations of union rules, or any rules other than those of a
political jurisdiction may be “wrong,” but they are not crimes unless they are also
prohibited by criminal law.
Second, a criminal law must not be retroactive, or ex post facto law: (1) declares
criminal act that was not illegal when it was committed, (2) increases the punishment for
a crime after it is committed, or (3) alters the rules of evidence in a particular case after
the crime is committed.

3. Actus reus – This latin term refers to criminal conduct – specifically, intentional or
criminally negligent (reckless) action or inaction that causes harm. Crime involves not
only things people do but also things they do not do. For example: Parents who fail to
provide their children with adequate food, clothing and shelter are committing a crime.

4. Mens rea – The Latin terms mens rea refers to criminal intent or a guilty state of
mind.

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Offenders who commit crimes with mens rea are to be held liable, except in the
following extenuating circumstances:

a. Acting under duress – e.g. committing robbery to save the life of a loved one.
b. Being underage – e.g. a six – year old child who picks up a gun and shoots his or her
parent
c. Insanity – A person is legally insane if, at the time of the commission of the act, he or
she (1) did not know the nature and quality of the act or (2) did not know that the act
was wrong.
d. Acted in a self - defense or in defense of a third party
e. Entrapment – It is the inducement of an individual to commit a crime not
contemplated
by him or her, undertaken for the sole purpose of instituting a criminal prosecution
against the offender. Cases of entrapment occur when police officers or civilians
acting
at their command, induce a person to commit a crime that he or she would not have
otherwise undertaken. For example, a police officer convinces an individual to rob
another and then arrests the individual after the crime has been committed. The
defense of entrapment would be applied in this case.
f. Acting out of necessity – The necessity defense can be used when a crime has been
committed to prevent a greater or more serious crime. Interestingly, the law does not
recognize economic necessity as an excuse from criminal responsibility. Thus, the
unemployed and hungry thief who steals groceries cannot employ the necessity
defense.

5. Causation – This refers to the causal relationship between the legally forbidden harm
and the actus reus. In other words, the criminal act must lead directly to the harm
without a long delay.

6. Concurrence – This means that there should be a concurrence between the actus
reus and the mens rea. In other words, the criminal conduct and the criminal intent must
occur together. Suppose you call someone to repair your broken washing machine, and
that person comes to your home, fixes your washing machine, and on the way out takes
your television set. The repair person cannot be found guilty of entering your home
illegally (tresspass) because that was not his or her initial intent. However, the same
person can be found guilty of stealing your television set.

7. Punishment – For a behavior to be considered a crime, there must be a statutory

provision for punishment or at least the threat of punishment, a law is unenforceable
and is therefore not a criminal law (Bohm & Haley). As the legal maxim goes, “nullum
crimen, nulla poena sine legis,” meaning, there is no crime where there is no law
punishing it.

The Three Ingredients of Crime (Philippine National Police)

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1. Motive or Desire – This is the driving force, the reason why the accused committed
the crime.
2. Opportunity – It refers to the time and place of the commission of the crime.
3. Instruments – These are tools employed by criminals.

Motive + Opportunity + Instrument/s = CRIME

When Does Crime Exist?

From the legal view point, crime exists when the person has been proven guilty
by the court. This view is based on the presumption of innocence as provided for by the
1987 Constitution that only after trial and the proof beyond reasonable doubt is
established by the prosecution that the accused has committed the crime.

From the scientific point of view, crime exists when it is reported. This is more
realistic, but not all reported cases are with sound basis of true happening. Some of
them are also unfounded.

Distinction Between Crime and Sin

Crime is an act or omission against the penal law of a state while sin is an act or
omission against the spiritual or divine law.

Distinction Between Crime and Immorality

1. Crime is committed against the law of state, while immorality is committed against the
unwritten social norms in a locality.
2. Crime is fixed by statute, while immorality is not.
3. Crime is nationalistic, while immorality is regionalistic.

Why Must Members of Society Be Interested in Crimes?

1. Crime is pervasive.

Almost all members of a free society have been a victim or an offender of a

criminal act. Crime as an associate of society affects almost all people regardless of
age, sex, race, nationality, religion, financial condition, education, and other
circumstances.

2. Crime is expensive.

The government and private sector spend an enormous amount of money for
crime detection, prosecution, correction and prevention.

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It is said that peace and order is a condition to economic progress and
development. There can be no progress when there are chaos and disorders. In
contrast, criminality thrives when economy is growing. Crime rate is high in highly
urbanized cities where businesses operate. So, if the crime problems are not effectively
addressed and prevented, the economy of a certain country will suffer.

3. Crime is destructive.

Many lives have been lost because of crimes such as murder, homicide and
other violent crimes. Many properties have been lost or destroyed because of robbery,
theft and arson.

4. Crime is reflective
Crime rate or incidence in a given locality is reflective of the effectiveness of the
social defenses employed by the people, primarily by the police system.

5. Crime is progressive.

The marked increase in the volume of crimes is on account of the ever increasing
population. The ever increasing rate and their technique show the state of thinking of
the society and its advancement.

Advantages of the Existence of Crime

While it is true that crimes are disadvantageous most of the time, for experts
crimes also offer some benefits. The following are viewed advantages of crime
occurrence:

1. It promoted solidarity among people.

Members of the community offer all their assistance to establish a strong front
against crime. Family ties become stronger: groups become more united and solidified
to fight criminality.

2. It prevents morality from going to the extremes.

Penal laws are the safeguard of our morality. When morality becomes low, they
serves as reminders to society that something has to be done at once to prevent
morality from going beyond its limits.

3. It is a notification of maladjustment.

Whenever a person violates criminal law, such is a proof that his action is not
within the accepted norms in a society. Crime is a symptom of social disorganization,
just as fever or pain is a sign that a person is sick.

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CRIME TYPOLOGIES

A typology is an organizing device for categorizing large amounts of information

into mutually exclusive categories. A number of typologies are used in the field of
criminology, but to date no universally accepted typology of offenders or legal
categories exist (Voigt, Thornton, Barrile, & Seaman, 1994).

Simply put, crime typology refers to the type of a particular crime category.
Criminologists group criminal offenders and/or criminal behaviors into categories or
typologies so they may be more easily studied and understood. Crimes are usually
classified according to the degree of severity of the offense, the nature of the acts
prohibited, psychological characteristics of the offender, or on some other bases.

General Categories of Crime

1. Offense – In the Philippines, an offense is an act or omission that is punishable by

special laws such as:
a. Republic acts
b. Presidential decrees
c. executive orders
d. Memorandum circulars
e. Ordinances
f. rules and regulations

A special law is a statute enacted by congress, penal in character, which is not

an amendment of the Revised Penal Code.

2. Felony – it is a serious crime. This category includes murder, rape, aggravated

assault, robbery, arson, and so on. A felony is an act or omission that is punishable by
the Revised Penal Code.

3. Delinquency/Misdemeanor/Infraction – It is an act that is in violation of the law. It

usually refers to these committed by minor offenders such as violations of city or
municipal ordinances. Examples are jaywalking, spitting on the sidewalk, littering, and
certain traffic violations, including failure to wear a seatbelt.

Crimes are also generally classified as follows: (Siegel, 2004; Cole & Smith,
2008)

1. Violent crimes include offenses where violence was applied. They are also called
acts or crimes against persons. Rape, assault, domestic violence, robbery, and murder
belong to this category.

2. Economic crimes are primarily committed to bring financial gain to the offender. The
most common ones are crimes against property such as burglary (housebreaking),
theft, carnapping motor vehicle theft, shoplifting, arson and fencing.

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Economic crimes may also be classified as:

a. White – collar crimes. They are violations of law committed by a person or a group
of persons in the course of an otherwise respected and legitimate occupation or
business enterprise. Offenses under this category are oftentimes in forms of fraud
cases, such as securities – related crimes, bank frauds, frauds committed against the
government, consumer fraud, computer crimes, insurance fraud, tax fraud, and other
related cases involving deceit.

b. Organized crimes. They are generally characterized by the use of legitimate or

illegitimate business enterprise for illegal profit. This crime type involves thousands of
criminals working within structures as complex as those of any large corporation,
subject to laws more rigidly enforced than those of legitimate government. The behavior
of the organization is not impulsive but rather the result of intricate conspiracies carried
on over many years, and aimed at gaining control over whole fields of activities in order
to have profit.

Economics is the driving force behind organized crime. Organized crime is

especially active in the goods and services that are scarce and illegal but have a strong
market demand. Drugs, prostitution, gambling, racketeering, pornography, and other
law violations in the nature of an illegal business primarily focus on profit.

3. Public order crimes. They are unlawful acts that interfere with the normal operation
of society and the ability of people to function efficiently. Moreover, they are sometimes
called “victimless crimes” because there is no direct, tangible, and complaining victim.
However, some argue that secondary victims – family friends, acquaintances, and
society at large – can be identified. Prostitution, pornography, drug addiction, gambling,
public drunkenness, vandalism, and disorderly conduct are among behaviors that fall
under this category. Although the police treat them as minor offenses, some scholars
argue that they can lead to more serious crimes.

Legal Classification of Crimes (The Revised Penal Code/RPC)

A. According to the degree or severity of the offenses

1. Felonies – These are acts and omissions punishable by law. Generally, a felony is a
relatively serious offense punishable by death, a fine or confinement in a national prison
for more than one year.

2. Misdemeanors – They are minor offenses that are punishable by no more than fine
and/or one year imprisonment, typically in a local jail.

B. According to the nature of the acts prohibited

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1. Mala in se – The term means “evil in itself.” They are crimes that are “wrong in
themselves.” They are characterized by universality and timelessness, that is, they are
considered crimes everywhere and have been crimes at all times. For example: murder,
rape, and robbery.

2. Mala prohibita – This means “wrong because it is prohibited.” They are offenses that
are illegal because laws define them as such. They lack universality and timelessness.
For example: gambling, trespassing, prostitution, dynamite fishing, illegal logging, and
illegal possession of firearms.

C. As to the manner crimes are committed

1. By means of dolo or deceit – when the act was done with deliberate intent
(intentional felony).
2. By means of culpa or fault – when the wrongful act results from imprudence,
negligence, lack of foresight, or lack of skill (culpable felony).

D. As to the stages in the commission of crime

1. Attempted crimes – when the offender commences the commission of a felony

directly by overt acts and does not perform all the acts of execution, which could
produce the felony by reason of some causes or accident other than his own
spontaneous desistance.

2. Frustrated crimes – when the offender has performed all the acts of execution which
will produce the felony as a consequence but which, nevertheless, do not produce the
felony by reason of cause independent of the will of the perpetrator.

3. Consummated crimes – when all the elements necessary for execution and
accomplishment of the crime are present.

E. As to the plurality of crimes

1. Simple crimes – when a single act constitutes only one offense. Examples: homicide,
robbery, rape

2. Complex crimes – when a single act constitutes two or more grave felonies or when
an
offense is a necessary means for committing the other. Example: robbery with
homicide.
In a complex crime, although two or more crimes are actually committed, they
constitute only one crime. When the offender executes various acts, he must have a
single purpose.

Other examples of complex crimes:

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 The single act of firing a shot causing the death of two persons who were
standing on the same line of the direction of the bullet.
 The single act of throwing a hand grenade producing murder and multiple
attempted murders.
 Placing a time bomb in a plane, which caused the latter to explode in mid – air,
killing thirteen persons therein, constitutes a complex crime of multiple murder
and destruction of property.
 Several shots from Thompson sub – machinegun causing several deaths,
although caused by a single act of pressing the trigger, are considered several
acts. Multiple homicides or murders, which are grave felonies are committed.

Note: Theft of firearm and illegal possession of same firearm do not form a
complex crime; they are two distinct crimes.
F. As to the gravity of penalty or offense

1. Grave felonies – those to which the law attaches the capital punishment or afflictive
penalties.

Afflictive penalties in accordance with Article 25 of the RPC include:

 Reclusion perpetua
 Reclusion temporal
 Perpetual or temporary absolute disqualification
 Perpetual or temporary special
 Prision mayor

Note: If the imposed is over 6,000 pesos, it is afflictive penalty.

2. Less grave felonies – those which the law punishes with penalties which are
correctional in nature.

The following are correctional penalties:

 Prision correccional
 Arresto mayor
 Suspension
 Destierro

Note: It is a less grave felony if the amount of the fine imposed is more than 200
person but not exceeding 6,000 pesos.

3. Light felonies – those infractions of law for the commission of which the penalty of
arresto menor or a fine not exceeding 200 pesos, or both, is imposed.

Examples of light felonies are:

 Slight physical injuries (Article 266)
 Theft (Article 309, pars. 7 & 8)

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 Alteration of boundaries or landmarks (Article 313)
 Malicious mischief (Article 328, par. 3; Article 329, par. 3)
 Intriguing against honor (Article 364)

G. As to the basis of criminal act

1. Crimes against National Security and the Law of Nations

Examples: treason, espionage, piracy
2. Crimes against the Fundamental Law of State
Examples: arbitrary detention, violation of domicile
3. Crimes against Public Order
Examples: rebellion, sedition, coup d’etat
4. Crimes against Public Interest
Examples: forgery, falsification of documents, fraud
5. Crimes against Public Morals
Examples: gambling and betting; offenses against decency and good customs
such as scandals, obscenity, vagrancy and prostitution
6. Crimes Committed by Public Officers
Examples: bribery, corruption, malversation of public funds or property
7. Crimes against Persons
Examples: parricide, murder, homicide, physical injuries, infanticide, abortion
8. Crimes against Personal Liberty and Security
 Crimes against personal Liberty
Examples: kidnapping, illegal detention
 Crimes against Security
Examples: abandonment of helpless persons or persons in danger,
exploitation of minors, trespass to dwelling, threats and coercion
9. Crimes against Property
Examples: robbery with violence or intimidation of persons; robbery by the use of
force upon things; brigandage; theft; occupation of real property or usurpation of
real rights in property
10. Crimes against Chastity
Examples: adultery, concubinage, rape, acts of lasciviousness, seduction,
corruption of minors, white slave trade, abduction
11. Crimes against the Civil Status of Persons
Examples: bigamy and other illegal marriages
12. Crimes against Honor
Examples: libel (malicious accusation by writing), slander (oral defamation)
13. Quast – offenses or Criminal Negligence
Examples: imprudence and negligence

Imprudence – indicates a deficiency of action; usually involves lack of skill.

If a person falls to take place the necessary precaution to avoid injury to person
or damaging to property, there is imprudence.

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Negligence – indicates a deficiency of perception usually involves lack of
foresight.

If a person fails to pay proper attention and to use due to negligence in

foreseeing the injury or damage impending to be caused, there is negligence.

Criminological Classification of Crimes

1. As to the result of crimes

a. Acquisitive crimes – when the offender acquires something as a consequence

of his criminal act.
b. Extinctive crimes – when the result of a criminal act is destructive

2. As to the time or period committed

a. Seasonal crimes – those committed only during a certain period of the year
like
during election period, Christmas season, etc.
b. Situational crimes – those committed only when given the situation conducive
to their commission.

3. As to the length of time committed

a. Instant crimes – those committed in the shortest possible time

b. Episodic crimes – those committed by a series of acts in a lengthy space of
time.

4. As to the location of the commission

a. Static crimes – those committed in only one place

b. Continuity crimes – those committed in several places.

5. As to the use of mental faculties

a. Rational crimes – those committed with intention and offender is in full

possession of his insanity.
b. Continuing crimes – those committed by persons who do not know the nature
and quality of their acts on account of a mental disease.

6. As to the type of offenders

a. White – collar crimes – those committed by persons or respectability and of

upper socio – economic class in the course of their occupational activities;
also
referred to as corporate or occupational crime.

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Examples:
 Tax evasion
 Stocks manipulation
 Plunder
 Bribery, graft and corruption
 Bankruptcy fraud
 Fraud against the government
 Computer crimes
 Insurance fraud
 Political fraud

b. Blue – collar crimes – those committed by ordinary professional criminals to

maintain their livelihood.

7. As to the standard of living of the criminals

a. Crimes of the upper world – e.g. falsification cases

b. Crimes of the underworld – e.g. bag snatching

Other Classes of Crimes

1. Crimes by Imitation – crimes committed by merely duplicating what was done by

others; based on the explanation of crime as a learned behavior.
2. Crimes of Passion – those committed at the height of great emotions.
3. Service Crimes – crimes committed through rendition of service to satisfy desire of
another.
4. Genocide – a crime committed by a government through mass destruction or
annihilation of human populations.
5. Transnational Crimes – violation of law that involve more than one country in their
planning, execution, e.g. drug trafficking, human trafficking (Albanese, 2010).
6. Environmental Crimes – acts that breach environmental legislation and cause
significant harm or risk to the environment and human health, e.g. illegal emission or
discharge of substances into air, water or soil; illegal trade in wildlife
7. Cyber Crimes – crimes that involve computers and networks.
8. Political Crimes – criminal activities for ideological purposes; also serious violations of
laws that threaten the security or existence of the government, e.g. terrorism, treason or
sedition.
9. Family – Related Crimes – crimes within the family
10. Patriarchal Crimes – those committed against women and children in the name of
traditional male dominance.

Classification of Criminals

1. Acute criminals - They commit crimes due to impulses of the moment, fit of passion,
anger, or spell of extreme jealousy.
2. Chronic criminals – They are those who acted in consonance with deliberate thinking.

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3. Normal criminals – Their psychic conditions resemble that of a normal individual,
except that they identify themselves with criminal prototypes.
4. Ordinary criminals – Considered to be the lowest form in the criminal career, ordinary
criminals engage only in conventional crimes that require limited skill. They lack
organization to help them avoid arrest and conviction.
5. Organized criminals – They have high degree of organization to enable them to
commit crimes without being detected, with specialized criminal activities operated in
large scale. Force, violence, intimidation, and bribery are used to gain and maintain
control over economic activities that include various forms of racketeering, gambling,
prostitution, and distribution of prohibited drugs.
6. Professional criminals – They are highly skilled and able to obtain considerable
amount of money without being detected due to organization and contact with
professional criminals. They are always able to escape conviction, and they specialize
in crimes that require skills.
7. Accidental criminals – They commit criminal acts as a result of unanticipated
circumstances.
8. Situational criminals – They are not actually criminals but commit crimes due to a
given situation; sometimes their criminal activities are intermixed with legitimate
activities.
9. Habitual criminals – They continue to commit criminal acts for diverse reasons due to
deficiency of intelligence and lack of self – control.
10. Active – aggressive criminals – They commit crimes in impulsive manner usually
due to their aggressive behavior, as shown in crimes of passion, resentment, or
revenge.
11. Passive – inadequate criminals - they commit crimes because they are pushed to do
it, by inducement, reward, or promise without considering the consequences. For this,
they are called “ulukan.”
12. Socialized criminals – They are normal in their behavior but mere inadequate and
defective in their socialization process. To this group belong the educated, respectable
members of society. They become criminals on the account of some situation they are
involved.

Classification of Criminals (The Revised Penal Code)

1. Recidivist – is one who, at the time of his trial for one crime, shall have been
previously convicted by final judgment of another crime embraced in the same title of
the Revised Penal Code.

2. Quasi – recidivist – is one who commits another crime after having been convicted by
final judgment of a crime falling under either the Revised Penal Code or Special Law,
before beginning to serve such sentence or while serving the same.

3. Habitual Delinquent – is one who, within a period of ten (10) years from the date of
his release or last conviction of the crimes of serious or less serious physical injuries,
robbery, estafa, or falsification, is found guilty of any of the said crimes for the third time
or oftener.

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Measuring Crimes

The Philippine National Police (PNP), as the premier law enforcement agency,
acknowledges the important role of generating statistical crime data in the overall
assessment of crime trends in the country. Hence, the PNP Headquarters issued “Letter
of Instructions: Unit Crime Periodic Report (UCPER)” dated April 22, 2009. This
directive prescribes a uniform procedure in reporting and collecting crime data reported
to the different law enforcement agencies.

As described in the said directive:

“Crime statistics is provide a mathematical measure of the level or amount of

crime that is prevalent in societies. The gathered crime data would help the law
enforcement sector present an accurate crime situation of the country. ”

Some of the salient provisions of the UCPER are presented in the foregoing
discussion.

Two Mechanisms in Collecting Statistical Crime Data

1. The National Crime Reporting System (NCRS) – concerned more with the details of
the crime such as victim’s data, offender’s data, among others.

2. Police Regional Office Periodic Report (PROPER) – mainly concerned with what
happened, where, to whom, why, and the results of investigation.

Definition of Terms

a. Crimes – include felonies which are violations of the Revised Penal Code and
offenses which are violations of special laws.
b. Crime Volume – is the number of crime incidents committed in a given area over a
period of time which include the index and non – index crimes.

CV = Index Crimes + Non – Index Crimes

c. Population – is the number of inhabitants in a given area. The figure to be used is the
medium assumption as per the records from the National Statistics Office (NSO).
d. Crime Rate – is the number of crime incidents in a given period of time for every
100,000 inhabitants of an area.
Crime Volume
Crime Rate = ____________________________________
Population / 100,000

e. Index Crimes – are crimes which are serious in nature and which occur with sufficient
frequency and regularity such that they can serve as an index to the crime situation.

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Only the crimes of murder, homicide, physical injury (serious and less serious),
carnapping, cattle rustling, robbery, theft and rape are considered as index crimes.
f. Solid Cases – NAPOLCOM M.C. No. 94 – 017 provides that:

A case shall be considered solved:

1) When the following elements occur: The offender has been identified; there is
sufficient evidence to charge him; the offender has been taken into custody; and the
offender has been charged before the prosecutor’s office or court of appropriate
jurisdiction.
2) When some elements beyond police control prevent the arrest of the offender, such
as when the victim refuses to prosecute after the offender is identified or the offender
dies or absconds.

g. Crime Solution Efficiency (CSE) – is the percentage of solved cases out of the total
number of crime incidents handled by law enforcement agencies for a given period of
time.
Solved Cases
CSE = ------------------------------- X100%
Crime Volume
h. Cleared Cases – A case shall be considered cleared when at least one of the
offenders has been identified; there is sufficient evidence to charge him; and he has
been charged before the prosecutor’s office or any other court of appropriate
jurisdiction. Included in this category solved cases.
i. Crime Clearance Efficiency (CCE) – is the percentage of cleared cases out of the total
number of crime incidents handled by law enforcement agencies for a given period of
time.
CC
CCE = ------------------------------- X100%
CV
Where:
CC = Cleared Cases
CV = Crime Volume
CCE = Case Clearance Efficiency

The Police Blotter shall serve as the main source of crime data for submission
and shall be the basis for preparing and accomplishing the Unit Periodic Report and
NCRS Form. The Chief of Police is primarily responsible for the maintenance of
accurate crime data. He must ensure that crime data gathered from all sources, such
as: Barangay, NBI, PDEA, DENR, DSWD, BUCUS, BI and other agencies with law
enforcement functions in the locality. Accuracy and integrity of crime recording
processes must be ensured by the Chief of Investigation Section and Crime Registrar.

LET US ASSESS

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ACTIVITY I.
Read the statement or question very carefully. Write the letter of your answer.

1. It is an act committed or omitted in violation of a public law forbidding or commanding

it and for which punishment is imposed upon conviction.
a. offense c. misdemeanor
b. crime d. felony
2. It is an act or omission that is punishable by special laws.
a. felony c. delinquency
b. offense d. misdemeanor
3. It refers to any standard or rule regarding what human beings should or should not
think, say or do under given circumstances.
a. deviance c. norm
b. crime d. misdemeanor
4. Also known as misdemeanor, it is an act in violation of a simple rule or regulation
such as a violation of an ordinance.
a. infraction c. offense
b. felony d. crime
5. For a crime to occur, an offender should have a criminal intent or a guilty state of
mind. The crime element is called:
a. causation c. concurrence
b. actus reus d. mens rea
6. This latin term means “criminal conduct.”
a. mens rea c. dolo
b. culpa d. actus reus
7. According to the Philippine National Police, the three ingredients of crime are
______.
a. Opportunity, Instrument/s, and Criminal Act
b. Motive, Criminal Act, and Instrument/s
c. Motive, Opportunity, and Instrument/s
d. Motive, Opportunity, and Criminal Act
8. Crime affects almost all members of our society regardless of age, sex, race,
nationality, religion, financial condition, education, and other personal circumstances. In
other words, crime affects all walks of life. Hence, all of us must be involved in crime
prevention and control because:
a. Crime is pervasive c. Crime is expensive
b. Crime is reflective d. Crime is destructive
9. So many lives and properties have been lost because of crimes. Hence, it is
everybody’s business to prevent and control crimes because:
a. Crime is pervasive c. Crime is expensive
b. Crime is reflective d. Crime is destructive
10. Gambling, prostitution, and disorderly conduct fall under this crime category.
a. public order crimes c. violent crimes
b. property crimes d. organized crimes

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11. These crimes involve thousands of criminals, working within complex structures and
driven by profit motive.
a. complex crimes c. white – collar crimes
b. organized crimes d. complex crimes
12. This term means “evil in itself.”
a. mala prohibita c. mala in se
b. culpa d. mens rea
13. Securities – related crimes, bank frauds, and other cases involving deceit belong to
which type of crime category?
a. organized crimes c. rational crimes
b. complex crimes d. white – collar crimes
14. They are otherwise known as “victimless crimes” because they have no direct,
complaining victims.
a. white – collar crimes c. economic crimes
b. public order crimes d. organized crimes
15. The offender performs all the acts of execution as a consequence but which
nevertheless these acts do not produce the felony by reason of causes independent of
the will of the perpetrator.
a. attempted felony c. consummated felony
b. frustrated felony d. intentional felony
16. Robbery with homicide is a crime of this type.
a. situational crime c. complex crime
b. static crime d. simple crime
17. When the wrongful act results from imprudence, negligence, lack of foresight, or
lack of skill, this is a crime committed by means of _______________.
a. actus rea c. dolo
b. culpa d. mala in se
18. When the offender commences the commission of a felony directly by overt acts
and does not perform all the acts and does not perform all the acts of execution, this is
what type of crime?
a. attempted crime c. dolo
b. consummated crime d. culpa
19. These are felonies that are correctional in nature.
a. light felonies c. serious felonies
b. grave felonies d. less grave felonies
20. Which of the following is not a correctional penalty?
a. reclusion temporal c. destierro
b. arresto mayor d. prision correccional
21. Coup d’ etat would fall under which crime typology?
a. economic crimes c. violent crimes
b. public order crimes d. white – collar crimes
22. When the result of a criminal act is destructive, it is called ______________.
a. acquisitive crime c. rational crime
b. extinctive crime d. irrational crime
23. When a crime is committed only in one location, it is called:
a. static crime c. instant crime

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b. episodic crime d. situational crime
24. When a crime is committed with intention and the offender is in full possession of his
sanity, it is called:
a. mental crime c. rational crime
b. mental deficient crime d. irrational crime
25. This refers to a person who commits another crime after having been convicted by
final judgment of a crime falling under either the Revised Penal Code or Special Law,
before beginning to serve such sentence or while serving the same.
a. recidivist c. habitual delinquent
b. quasi – recidivist d. socialized criminal
26. They are committed by ordinary criminals as a means of livelihood.
a. situational crimes c. ordinary crimes
b. service crimes d. blue – collar crimes
27. This refers to a person who at the time of his trial for one crime, shall have been
previously convicted by final judgment of another crime.
a. recidivist c. socialized criminal
b. quasi – recidivist d. habitual delinquent
28. When a crime is committed by a person who does not know the nature and quality
of his act due to a mental disease, it is called _____________.
a. mentally derange crime c. rational crime
b. mentally deficient crime d. irrational crime
29. They are committed due to fit of great emotions.
a. crimes against chastity c. crimes of passion
b. crimes against honor d. quasi offense
30. To this group belong the educated, respectable members of society who become
criminals on the account of some situation they are involved.
a. accidental criminals c. professional criminals
b. socialized criminals d. organized criminals
31. This are crimes committed through a series of acts in a lengthy space of time.
a. static crimes c. acquisitive crimes
b. instant crimes d. episodic crimes
32. Based on the crime reporting system adopted by the Philippine National Police, the
term is defined as the number of crime incidents in a given period of time for every
100,000 inhabitants in an area.
a. crime rate c. non – index crimes
b. index crimes d. crime volume
33. The following are considered as index crimes by the police in the Philippines,
except:
a. homicide c. carnapping
b. physical injury d. trespass to dwelling
34. This is the number of crime incidents committed in a given area over a period of
time which include the index and non – index crimes.
a. crime clearance efficiency c. crime rate
b. crime volume d. crime solution efficiency
35. It is the percentage of solved cases out of the total number of crime incidents
handled by law enforcement agencies for a given period of time.

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a. cleared cases c. crime solution efficiency
b. crime clearance efficiency d. solved cases

REFERENCES

References:

1. www.scribd.com/document.ph
2. Armando A. Alviola, PhD Crim., Educ. Mngt. Introduction to Criminology and
Psychology of Crimes

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