CJCENTRAL: Criminology Today, 3E: Glossary

DNA fingerprinting (or profiling)
the use of biological residue found at the scene of a crime for genetic comparisons in aiding the identification of criminal suspects.

dangerous drugs
a term used by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to refer to "broad categories or classes of controlled substances other than cocaine, opiates, and cannabis products." Amphetamines, methamphetamines, PCP (phencyclidine), LSD, methcathinone, and "designer drugs" are all considered "dangerous drugs."

dangerousness
the likelihood that a given individual will later harm society or others. Dangerousness is often measured in terms of recidivism, or as the likelihood of additional crime commission within a five year period following arrest or release from confinement.

data confidentiality
an ethical requirement of social scientific research which stipulates that research data not be shared outside of the research environment.

data encryption
the process by which information is encoded, making it unreadable to all but its intended recipients.

date rape
unlawful forced sexual intercourse with a female against her will which occurs within the context of a dating relationship

Daubert standard
a test of scientific acceptability applicable to the gathering of evidence in criminal cases.

deconstructionist theories
emerging approaches which challenge existing criminological perspectives to debunk them, and which work toward replacing them with concepts more applicable to the postmodern era. Deconstructionist theories are generally postmodernist approaches, none of which have yet developed fully enough to actually deserve the name "theory."

decriminalization
(of drugs) reduces criminal penalties associated with the personal possession of a controlled substance.

defensible space
the range of mechanisms that combine to bring an environment under the control of its residents.

demography
the study of the characteristics of population groups (demographics the characteristics of such groups usually expressed in statistical fashion).

designer drugs
"new substances designed by slightly altering the chemical makeup of other illegal or tightly controlled drugs."

descriptive statistics
describe, summarize, or highlight the relationships within data which have been gathered.

deterrence
the prevention of crime. See also general deterrence and specific deterrence.

deterrence strategy
a crime control strategy which attempts "to diminish motivation for crime by increasing the perceived certainty, severity, or celerity of penalties."

deviance
behavior which violates social norms or which is statistically different from the "average."

differential association
the sociological thesis that criminality, like any other form of behavior, is learned through a process of association with others who communicate criminal values.

discrediting information
information which is inconsistent with the managed impressions being communicated in a given situation.

displacement
a shift of criminal activity from one spatial location to another.

domestic terrorism
The unlawful use of force or violence by a group or an individual who is based and operates entirely within the United States and its territories without foreign direction and whose acts are directed at elements of the U.S. government of population.

dramaturgical perspective (also dramaturgy)
a theoretical point of view which depicts human behavior as centered around the purposeful management of interpersonal impressions.

drug-defined crimes
violations of laws prohibiting or regulating the possession, use, or distribution of illegal drugs.

drug-related crimes
crimes in which drugs contribute to the offense (excluding violations of drug laws).

drug trafficking.
See trafficking.

Durham rule
a standard for judging legal insanity which holds that "an accused is not criminally responsible if his unlawful act was the product of mental disease or mental defect."

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