Precrime

The terms precrime and postcrime are related to the legal concepts of crimes and misdemeanors. Both of the terms precrime and postcrime have variations in meanings after years of historical usage.

Precrime

The term "precrime" refers to events and motives before an offense has been committed. In pop culture, the word "precrime" was popularized by the 2002 movie Minority Report which was adapted from science fiction writings of author Philip K. Dick (1956 short story "The Minority Report"), as well as other sources: in the film the plot concerns determining whether or not someone is planning to commit a crime. The term precrime has also been used in relation to techniques for so-called "profiling" to determine likelihood of future offenses being committed.^{[citation needed]}

Postcrime

The term "postcrime" refers to events and motives after an offense has been committed, or after a person has been victimized. A common use of the word is in the term "postcrime victimization" (aka "secondary victimization") defined legally as:

• postcrime victimization - problems which follow from initial victimization, such as the loss of employment, medical bills, the insensitivity of family members or others, etc.

There are other meanings for the term "postcrime" as well.

See also

• Sentence (law) - about fines or confinement for offenses.
• Victimology

References

• LearnAboutLaw.com, Legal Glossary / Law Dictionary, "Definition: Postcrime Victimization" (legal term), 2006, webpage:
• LAL-PostcrimeVic.

External links

• LearnAboutLaw.com, Legal Glossary / Law Dictionary (legal terms), 2006, webpage: LAL-Glossary.
• PRE-CRIME: THE DANGERS OF A TECHNOCRACY IN THE 21st CENTURY