1.1. Crime and the Criminal Justice System 
SHANELL SANCHEZ 
Theft as a Child 
The first lesson in crime and criminality I remember was when I was in second grade and stole something from 
a local drug store. I thought that the bracelet was shiny and perfect. At first, I remember wanting to try it on, but 
then I did not want to take it off. I had more questions than my Nana may have been ready to answer about why I 
did it and why I could not keep it. I had to take the bracelet back, which hurt because I loved it. Because of guilt or 
shame, I told my grandma what I did. 
Think about a time in your life that you may have done something similar. Was this first lesson in crime and 
criminality from the person you were raised by such as a parent(s) or grandparent(s)? Did they teach you that what 
you did was a crime and, hopefully, how to correct this wrong at a young age? 
You were probably punished, and they may have consisted of helping out with more chores or losing your 
allowance to pay back what you stole. 
Imagine all the questions you may have for your parents at the moment: Why was it wrong? What would happen 
to me if I did not tell you? What is a crime? Who decides what makes a crime? What happens to me if I commit a 
crime and get caught? What is my punishment? Why was it wrong when there were so many polishes there? 
Further, I had to help out around the house for the weekend. In exchange for all this, she did not tell my dad 
because she knew her punishment was sufficient and to tell him may be excessive. She took a balanced approach to 
punishment and I think this is why it was so effective. It was not too strict, it was hard to complete, and I had to 
think about what I did. 
Most criminologists define crime as the violation of the laws of a society by a person or a group of 
people who are subject to the laws of that society (citizens). Thus, crime as defined by the State or Federal 
government. Essentially, crime is what the law states and a violation of the law, stated in the statue, would 
make actions criminal. 
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1. Lynch, M., Stretesky, P., Long, M. (2015). Defining crime: A critique of the concept and its implication. Palgrave Macmillan: US. 
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