Class Syllabus ADJ/215

Course Syllabus
College of Criminal Justice and Security ADJ/215 Criminology
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Course Description ADJ 215 highlights the causes of criminal behavior and the theoretical interpretations of such behavior. Students are introduced to criminological methods of inquiry and review several different classifications of crime. Students also consider the public policy implications of various approaches to criminology. Policies Students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents: University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document. Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum.

University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality. Course Materials Siegel, L. J. (2012). Criminology (11th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth. Associate Level Writing Style Handbook, available online at https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/secure/aapd/CWE/pdfs/Associate_level_writing_style_handbook.pdf All electronic materials are available on the student website.

Week One: Criminology

Details
Objectives 1.1 Describe the field of criminology. 1.2 Interpret crime trends and patterns. 1.3 Compare and contrast data collection methods in criminology and their limitations. Read the course description and objectives. Read the instructors biography and post your own. Read Appendix A. Read Ch. 1 of Criminology. Read Ch. 2 of Criminology.

Due

Points

Course Preparation Reading Reading Reading

Class Syllabus ADJ/215

Participation

Participate in class discussion.

Ongoing 4 days each week Day 2 Day 4 Day 4

10

Discussion Questions CheckPoint Survey of Local Crime Prevention Efforts

Respond to weekly discussion questions. You have been hired to help your city council in an effort to improve crime prevention methods within your community. Write a written proposal outlining 2 to 3 data collection techniques. Compare and contrast the limitations of each technique. Post your proposal in 200 to 300 words.

10 30

Week Two: Rational Choice Theory

Details
Objectives 2.1 Associate rational choice perspective to criminal behavior. 2.2 Explain crime control strategies based on rational choice theory. 2.3 Summarize the pros and cons of just deserts. Read Ch. 4 of Criminology. Read the following simulation on Rational Choice Theory: http://204.17.25.69/cj_sim/CJ_sim_01.html

Due

Points

Reading Nongraded Activities and Preparation Rational Choice Theory Individual Just Deserts

Conduct a search in the University of Phoenix Library or on the Internet on just deserts. Discuss, in 700 to1,050 words, the arguments in favor of and the arguments against just deserts. Summarize the paper by stating your opinion on just deserts. Include at least three citations and references supporting your opinion. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

Day 7

130

Week Three: Trait Theories

Details
Objectives 3.1 Associate criminal behavior with physical, environmental, and social factors. 3.2 Classify criminal behavior using the psychological aspects of trait theories.

Due

Points

Class Syllabus ADJ/215

Reading Nongraded Activities and Preparation Trait Theories Participation

Read Ch. 5 of Criminology. Read the following simulation on trait theories: http://204.17.25.69/cj_sim/CJ_sim_02.html

Participate in class discussion.

Ongoing 4 days each week Day 2 Day 4

10

Discussion Questions

Respond to weekly discussion questions.

10

Week Four: Social Structure Theories and Social Process Theories

Details
Objectives 4.1 Analyze the relationship between the socialization process and crime. 4.2 Examine the link between social structure and crime. 4.3 Describe public policy implications of social process theories. Read Ch. 6 of Criminology. Read Ch. 7 of Criminology. Read the following simulation on social structure theories and social process theories: http://204.17.25.69/cj_sim/CJ_sim_03.html

Due

Points

Reading Reading Nongraded Activities and Preparation Social Structure and Process Theories CheckPoint Diversion Program

Locate a diversion program in your community, such as at a school, a community service agency, or a city recreational center. Post a 200- to 300-word response describing the purpose, target population, and results of the program. Discuss how diversion programs like this one are related to social process theories.

Day 4

60

Individual Socialization and Criminal Behavior

Resources: truTVs Crime Library at www.crimelibrary.com Locate a criminal from truTVs Crime Library at one of the following links: Serial Killers; Notorious Murders; Criminal Mind; or Terrorists & Spies, and Gangsters. Read the biography of your chosen criminal.

Day 7

100

Class Syllabus ADJ/215

Write a 700- to 1,050-word paper in which you discuss the link between socialization references in the research you conduct and the theories in the text. The criminal biography you locate may not explicitly discuss the link, so read carefully. You may use additional resources to research the criminal. Answer the following questions in your paper: What kind of family life did the criminal have? What educational background did he or she have? What type of peer relations did he or she have? What measures, if any, might have been taken to avoid this crime? In your opinion, how strong is the link between social forces and crime? Explain your answer. Include at least three citations and references supporting your opinion. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

Week Five: Social Conflict Theories and Developmental Theories

Details
Objectives 5.1 Discuss the challenges of restorative justice. 5.2 Describe the function of social conflict in a contemporary society. 5.3 Explain the developmental factors affecting criminal careers. Read Ch. 8 of Criminology. Read Ch. 9 of Criminology. Read the following simulation on social conflict theories and developmental theories: http://204.17.25.69/cj_sim/CJ_sim_04.html

Due

Points

Reading Reading Nongraded Activities and Preparation Social Conflict and Developmental Theories Participation

Participate in class discussion.

Ongoing 4 days each week Day 2 Day 4

10

Discussion Questions

Respond to weekly discussion questions.

10

Class Syllabus ADJ/215

CheckPoint Adolescent Offenders

Locate a recent news article about an adolescent offender. Refer to Figure 9.4 in Ch. 9 of Criminology. Describe the development of the offenders behavior. Post a 200- to 300-word response to the following question: If the behavioral pattern is not corrected, where might it lead as the adolescent reaches adulthood?

Day 4

30

Week Six: Violent Crime

Details
Objectives Reading Reading Reading Individual Compare Crime and Terrorism 6.1 Summarize the cause of violent crimes. 6.2 Compare crime and terrorism. Read Appendix A. Read Ch. 10 of Criminology. Read Ch. 11 of Criminology. Locate an example of a terrorist organization from the Foreign Terrorist Organization List by accessing the U.S. Department of State website (http://www.state.gov/s/ct/), selecting Terrorist Designation Lists, and then selecting Foreign Terrorist Organization List. Research the terrorist organization, using reputable sources from the University of Phoenix Library or the Internet. Include citations and references for sources used in your research. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. Answer the following questions in 1,050 to 1,400 words: What is the motivation of the selected terrorist organization? Day 7 130

Due

Points

How might knowledge of the terrorists motivation assist in planning counterterrorist strategy? How do the motivations of terrorists differ from the motivations of other violent criminals, such as those who commit murder, rape, and domestic assault? How might cultural, socioeconomic, or political factors lead someone to become a terrorist or a criminal?

Week Seven: Property Crime and Enterprise Crime

Details Due Points

Class Syllabus ADJ/215

Objectives

7.1 Identify the differences between a professional thief and an amateur thief. 7.2 Differentiate the motivations behind property crimes and enterprise crimes. 7.3 Compare the effectiveness of methods for controlling property crime and enterprise crime. Read Ch. 12 of Criminology. Read Ch. 13 of Criminology. Read Ch. 15 of Criminology. Participate in class discussion. Ongoing 4 days each week Day 2 Day 4 Day 4 10

Reading Reading Reading Participation

Discussion Questions CheckPoint Crime Prevention Methods for Property Crime and Enterprise Crime

Respond to weekly discussion questions. List three crime prevention methods for property crime and three crime prevention methods for enterprise crime. Use the Internet to research the success of each method. Post a 200- to 300-word response to the following question: How successful is each prevention method? Illustrate your findings with statistics and anecdotal evidence.

10 30

Week Eight: Public Order Crime

Details
Objectives 8.1 Discuss policies and practices designed to deter public order crimes. 8.2 Examine the relationship between law and morality. Read Ch. 14 of Criminology. Examine the relationship between morality and law using several different examples. Answer the seven Critical Thinking Questions on pp. 510511 in Ch. 14 of Criminology. Respond to each question in 150 to 250 words. Day 7 130

Due

Points

Reading Individual Morality and Law

Week Nine: Public Policies

Details
Objectives 9.1 Outline public policies used to help prevent crime.

Due

Points

Class Syllabus ADJ/215

Participation

Participate in class discussion.

Ongoing 4 days each week Day 2

10

Capstone Discussion Question

Post a 200- to 300-word response to the following: During this course, you have learned about the public policy implications and crime prevention strategies related to different criminological theories and types of crime. In your opinion, what public policy or prevention strategy implication makes the most sense? Do real-world public policies of this type help prevent crime? Explain your answer. Depending on the way that crime is interpreted, the public policy implications change. Resources: Criminology and Appendix A Create a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation outlining the public policy implications of each of the criminological theories you have studied in this course: rational choice theories (Ch. 4), trait theories (Ch. 5), social structure theories (Ch. 6), social process theories (Ch. 7), social conflict theories (Ch. 8), and developmental theories (Ch. 9). Include a thorough overview of the policy implications of various theoretical interpretations of crime. Include 18 to 24 slides and speaker notes that describe, in detail, the content of each slide. Format your presentation consistent with APA guidelines. Use the University of Phoenix Library or the Internet to identify public policies and their results. The content of the slides must include the following: Definition of theory Explanation of how crime is interpreted according to the theory Summary of policy implications Example of public policy currently in effect Results of the public policy

20

Final Project Public Policy Implications of Criminological Theories

Day 7

250

Optional Discussion Questions Week One Discussion Questions There are several subareas that make up the criminological enterprise. Which areas interest you and why?

Class Syllabus ADJ/215

Research statistics for your state or nation that are related to one of the following types of crime: murder, theft, drug use, sexual assault, or kidnapping. Are the rates for this crime increasing or decreasing? What factors contribute to the trend? Week Three Discussion Questions Provide examples of one physical, one environmental, and one social factor that may affect criminal behavior. What kind of criminal behavior might result from each of these factors? Describe one of the psychological or physical traits of the trait theories associated with criminal behavior. Provide an example of a recent criminal who exhibits this trait. Might this crime be prevented in future circumstances? Explain your answer.

Week Five Discussion Questions Do you believe restorative justice programs can work? Why or why not? DQ: 5.1

What types of social conflict exist in American culture today? Are they productive conflicts, producing results for those who need help? Explain your answer. Week Seven Discussion Questions List similarities and differences between a professional thief and an amateur thief. Are the differences just in skill or experience, or are there psychological differences between them as well? Which one would be more easily deterred? Explain your answer. How are the motivations of property criminals different from those of enterprise criminals? Provide examples. Week Nine Captsone Discussion During this course, you have learned about the public policy implications and crime prevention strategies related to different criminological theories and types of crime. In your opinion, what public policy or prevention strategy implication makes the most sense? Do real-world public policies of this type help prevent crime? Explain your answer.

Copyright
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