crimnal2 0

PART I: SHORT RESPONSE

 

Directions: Answer the questions below.  Your response to each should be at least one paragraph in length.

 

1.      What are the central assumptions of biological theories of crime?  How do such theories differ from other perspectives that attempt to explain the same phenomena?

 

2.      What biological factors does this lesson suggest might substantially influence human aggression?

 

3.      What have research studies in the field of genetics had to say about the possible causes of crime?

 

4.      What is sociobiology?  How do sociobiologists explain criminals?

 

5.      What are some of the constitutional factors that this lesson identifies as linked to criminality?

 

6.      What are the social policy implications of biological theories of crime?  What U.S. Supreme Court case discussed in this lesson might presage a type of policy based on such theories?

 

7.      Why have biological approaches to crime causation encountered stiff criticism?  Do you agree or disagree with those who are critical of such perspectives?  Why?

 

8.      What were the central concepts that defined the Classical School of criminological thought?

 

9.      Name the various preclassical thinkers identified in this lesson.  What ideas did each contribute to Enlightenment philosophy?  What form did those ideas take in classical criminological thought?

 

10.    Identify the central figures in the Classical School and explain the contributions of each.

 

11.    What form does classical thought take today?  What implications does such thought hold for crime control policy?

 

12.    What role does punishment play in classical and neoclassical thinking about crime and crime prevention?  According to this way of thinking, what kinds of punishment might work best to prevent crime?

 

13.    What are the policy implications of the Classical School?  What kinds of crime prevention and crime control programs might be based on classical principles?

 

14.    What are the shortcomings of the Classical School?  What about the shortcomings of neoclassical thinking about crime and crime control?

 

PART II: COURSE PROJECT: CRIMES AND THEORIES

 

(Compilation of Modules 1-8)

 

Directions: This course project will include a written component for each module that will be turned in at the end of the course in Module 8.  Criminology is the study of crime and criminal behaviors based on theory.  Your textbook defines a theory as a series of interrelated propositions that attempts to describe, explain, predict, and ultimately control some class of events.  A theory gains explanatory power from inherent logical consistency and is “tested” by how well it describes and predicts reality.  To assist you with this project, the textbook defines theories throughout.  The theories associated with criminology can be applied to the crimes we see committed in the news each week.  Thus, this course project will involve locating two crimes (one in your local or nearly surrounding communities and one national) and applying the crimes you locate to one of the theories learned in this course.

 

For example: Situational Choice Theory could be related to a crime of robbing a person because this type of crime often depends on the situation involved, such as a victim being in the right place at the right time and other factors that lends to the ability to commit the crime, including location, time of day, environmental factors, and the victim being alone and in possession of items the offender desires.

 

Requirements:  For each module, locate a local and national crime, describe the details and source of the crime (also be sure to keep a reference page with all the sources used throughout the course project).  Identify an appropriate theory learned during this course, describe the theory, and then explain how the theory relates to the crime chosen.  Thus, each part should require at least one paragraph as follows:

 

1. Chosen description and details of the crime
2. Chosen Theory, including definition and founder
3. Explanation of how the chosen theory relates to the chosen crime.

 

Repeat this process for each crime – one local and one national for a total of a minimum of six paragraphs per Module.  Sources of crimes include newspapers, websites, television news stations, etc.  You can use theories repeatedly for this project; however, try to use varying theories to demonstrate an understanding of as many course criminological theories as possible.

 

Be sure to include APA formatting, including a cover page, in-text citations, and a reference page (please visit the Academic Resource Center for concise APA guidelines).  For each module, be sure to include the date with either Local or National next to the date as the title for that module assignment.  Note that there must be two titles for each module (one for local and one for national).  Grading will be in part on ensuring that the course project included both a local and national component for each module.  Thus, the final project should have a minimum of 16 Crimes with Theories Applied (two per module).  You will also be graded on your APA formatting, reference page, grammar, and spelling.