Avocational crimes refer to criminal activities that are not committed by individuals as a part of their profession or occupation, but rather as a secondary or sideline activity, often for personal gain or enjoyment. The class textbook explains avocational crimes as "occasional economic crimes committed by respectable members of society outside of an occupational context." (Friedrichs, D. O., 2010). Among the various types of avocational crimes, those that are most likely to be exploited are those that can be conducted with relative ease, low risk of detection, and high potential for financial gain. One such crime is copywrite infringement.

Copyright is a legal protection granted to the creator of an original work, such as literary, artistic, or musical creations. Infringement occurs when someone violates the exclusive rights granted to the copyright owner under the Copyright Act by engaging in activities that are reserved for the copyright holder. These activities include reproducing the work, distributing copies, performing or displaying the work publicly, or creating derivative works based on the original material. (Kenton, 2022). It's important to note that copyright infringement is a violation of federal law, and consequences may include legal action and penalties. Understanding copyright laws and respecting the rights of creators is crucial to avoid infringing on intellectual property. Platforms like YouTube also have their own copyright rules and policies to protect the rights of content creators on their platform. My boyfriend is a musician/singer/songwriter and has arranged some amazing musical pieces that he has had to protect. I have copywritten many of his songs through the Library of Congress and it is amazing the amount of information that they require to be able to copywrite music. Due to his inability to say no, he has written songs for other singers to record, and they have tried to pass those songs off as their originals by putting their name on the album as the writer. He was paid a large sum of money awarded by the court due to the infringement of his music. This is a serious offense that is not taken lightly.

Another example of an avocational crime is opportunistic theft. According to Webster Dictionary, an opportunist takes advantage of opportunities as they arise. ("Opportunistic," 2024). Opportunistic theft is a common avocational crime where individuals may take advantage of unguarded property or moments of opportunity to steal. This type of crime is often exploited because it requires minimal planning and can be a crime of convenience. Individuals are more likely to exploit crimes they have easy access to commit and where there is a perceived low risk of getting caught. A significant example is shoplifting. Why pay for something when you can walk into a store and pick it up and walk out? Retail stores are facing many problems to their business due to the number of shoplifters that frequent their establishments. "Target last week said it was bracingto lose half a billion dollars this yearbecause of rising theft." (Kavilanz, 2023). Unfortunately, shoplifting is not only detrimental to the stores that have the loss, but it also affects the public who legitimately purchase from these stores. Stores have to raise prices to offset their losses. Overall, it hurts the economy.

These crimes are based on the factors of access and opportunity, skillset, economic incentive, and moral flexibility. Opportunistic copywrite infringement is common due to the lack of difficulty in copying and distributing content making it easier to infringe on copywritten material. Additionally, some people may not fully understand copyright laws and mistakenly believe that using someone else's work without permission is acceptable. Lack of awareness about copyright laws and the consequences of infringement can also contribute to its prevalence. Theft is common due to its convenience and ease of execution. Whether it be a car, a work of art, or just a pack of gum, an experienced thief will be able to pull off the perfect crime.

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