Deviance is a very important concept in both criminology and sociology. It is as much about society as it is about law. In this article I will answer the question of what exactly is deviance and how is it constructed? Who can define what deviance is? Who benefits from a certain definition and how does this process influence the legal system? According to our course notes, “a crime is any act that has been legally prohibited by the state in such a way that, if committed, it renders the actor liable. "punishment or treatment, or both." These same notes define deviance as a “violation of any norm of social conduct.” This violation can range from a hippie movement to excessive speed in traffic to a criminal act such as domestic violence. In the Criminology textbook, Siegel and McCormick state that deviance is “behavior that deviates from social norms and is not always subject to formal sanctions” (p 6). This means that even if behavior or actions deviate from societal expectations and norms, they do not necessarily warrant criminal status. Furthermore, Siegel and McCormick also explain that “not all crimes are deviant or unusual acts, and not all deviant acts are illegal or criminal” (p. 6). To put things in perspective, let's take speeding in traffic as an example. It is considered a summary offense and a deviant act, but speeding carries very minor, if any, punishment compared to a criminal act like murder; both are considered deviant, but murder carries a prison sentence. Something that is considered deviant in one place may not be considered deviant in another. Goode and Ben-Yehuda assert that what is considered deviant varies by society, groups, time period, and social context (p. 110). For example, smoking marijuana is deviant... middle of paper ... significant individuals and groups as well as society influence the legal system. Works Cited Goode, Erich. and Ben-Yehuda, Nachman. Moral panics: the social construction of deviance / Erich Goode and Nachman Ben-Yehuda Wiley-Blackwell, Chichester: 2009Curra, John. The relativity of deviance / John Curra 2000Taylor, Ian R. and Young, Jock. and Walton, Paul The new criminology: for a social theory of deviance / Ian Taylor, Paul Walton, Jock Young; [with a foreword by Alvin W. Gouldner] Routledge and Kegan Paul, London: 1973 Macionis, John J. Sociology/ John J. Macionis, Linda M. Gerber.-6th ed. Canadian: 2007Siegel, Larry J.Criminology in Canada: theories, models and typologies/Larry J. Siegel, Chris McCormick. –4th ed. : 2007Cheng, Hongming. Soc 212- Introduction to criminiology. University of Saskatchewan. September, 2009.