I was wondering what does "crime is a social construction" mean.

Also, is it the same as "social construction of crime"?

Crime is a social construction because crime is defined by people.

"The statement ‘crime is socially constructed’ is very vague in that it could be argued for hours and in hundreds of pages of information on the subject. To put it simply, crime is constructed by the use of social laws, and the decisions of those with power, to make some of these social laws into criminal laws. Crime can be seen as a social construction as what is legal or illegal in one society or culture may not be in another, the same can be said of deviance."

Charlotte -- what is the source of your quotation?

The phrase "crime is a social construction" refers to the idea that the concept of crime is not inherent or universally defined, but rather a product of social processes, values, and norms. This means that what is considered a crime can vary across different societies, cultures, and historical periods.

When we say "crime is a social construction," we are emphasizing that criminal behavior is not just determined by the actions themselves, but also by how society perceives, defines, and reacts to certain behaviors. Different societies have different legal systems and definitions of what constitutes a crime. For example, the definition of theft may vary from one country to another, or the punishment for drug possession may differ across different states or provinces.

The term "social construction of crime" essentially means the same thing as "crime is a social construction." It emphasizes that crime is not fixed or objective, but rather shaped and defined by social, cultural, and historical factors.

Understanding crime as a social construction encourages us to critically analyze and question how laws are made, who they benefit, and what effects they have on individuals and communities. It also recognizes the influence of power, inequality, and social forces in shaping our understanding of crime and criminality.