All crimes are deviant act but not all deviant acts are criminal.

Justify clearly
Introduction
Deviance is behaviour that does not conform to social norms and values; crime is the
breaking of a rule in society. Criminal behaviour is deviant but deviant behaviour is not
always criminal. Crime and deviance are relative of the time, place and culture in which they
happen. Plummer (1979) captures this point in his distinction between societal and
situational deviance. Some behaviour is deviant throughout society, regardless of the
situation, such as rape. Whereas, some actions may only be seen as deviant in certain
situation, for example ‘normal’ behaviour in a pub or nightclub would probably be
considered deviant in a convent, Crime and deviance is defined by society and therefore
differs from one society to the next.
"Deviance" is a wide-ranging term used by sociologists to refer to behaviour that varies, in
some way, from a social norm. In this respect, it is evident that the concept of deviance
refers to some form of "rule-breaking" behaviour. In relation to deviance, therefore, the
concept relates to all forms of rule-breaking (whether this involves such things as murder,
theft or arson - the breaking of formal social rules - or such things as wearing inappropriate
clothing for a given social situation, failing to produce homework at school or being cheeky
to a parent, teacher and so forth - more-or-less the breaking of relatively informal social
rules). As should be apparent, criminal behaviour is a form of deviance (one that is defined
as the breaking of legal rules) and, whilst we will be concentrating upon this area of
deviance, it needs to be remembered that it is only one aspect - albeit a very significant one
- in relation to the concept of deviant behaviour in any society. Deviance is everywhere. All
societies and all social groups have norms and sanctions, rules and regulations. This
observation has two major implications, both of which were developed and addressed by
sociologist, Emile Durkheim (1858 – 1917). For Durkheim, deviance is not a pathological
social aberration to be destroyed; rather it is normal and necessary part of every social
order. It is the rule and not an abnormal exception (Heitzeg, 1996). Deviance involves
behaviour that violates norms. The norms violated may be mores, customs, or folkways.
The perceived level seriousness of the deviant behaviour depends on the type of norm
violated and the social significance of the norm. Generally, the study of "crime" tends to be
seen as the preserve of the criminologist, whereas sociologists tend to focus their attention
and interest upon the wider social implications of all forms of rule-breaking (and, of course,
rule creating) behaviour in any given society. However, as we shall see, this does include the
analysis of crime and criminal behaviour considered as forms of deviance.
Conclusion
Deviance is normal because it cannot be avoided. Every society has deviance because the
people seek social boundaries to fine its members. They provide them with a sense of
belongings and at the same time cast out deviants.

References
Heitzeg, N. (1996). Deviance: Rule Makers and Rule Breakers. New York: West Publishing
Co.
Erikson, K.T. (1996). On the Sociology of Deviance in Deviant Behaviour: A Text Reader in
the Sociology of Deviant, 5th ed. New York: St. Martins Press.
Kelly, D.H. (1996). Deviant Behaviour: A Text Reader in the Sociology of Deviant, 5th ed.
New York:St. Martins Press.
Thorsten, S. (1996). The Conflict of Conduct Norms in Deviance: Rule makers and Rule
breakers. New York: West Publishing Company.