UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE CCJS 651 Seminar in Criminology Spring 2013

Professor John H. Laub Course Synopsis: This course provides a general introduction to the study of the causes of crime from an interdisciplinary perspective. The central focus centers on the major theories of crime causation developed over the past two hundred years. Significant issues in criminology -- for example, the role of age, race, gender, and social class in crime causation as well as explanations of specific forms of crime such as violence and white collar crime -- are highlighted and discussed. In addition, special attention is devoted to the measurement of crime and what is known from the available empirical data on the nature and extent of crime in the United States. Required Readings: (1) Thomas J. Bernard, Jeffrey B. Snipes, and Alexander L. Gerould. Volds Theoretical Criminology, Sixth Edition. Oxford University Press, 2010. Francis T. Cullen and Robert Agnew. Criminological Theory: Past to Present Essential Readings, Fourth Edition. Oxford University Press, 2011. Clayton J. Mosher, Terance D. Miethe, and Timothy C. Hart. The Mismeasure of Crime, Second Edition. Sage Publications, 2011. David C. Rowe. Biology and Crime. Oxford University Press, 2007.

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Course Requirements: (1) An in-class midterm examination will be given on March 26, 2013. This exam will account for 30% of your final grade. More information on this exam will be provided in class. A paper of 10-15 typed pages is due at the start of class on April 23, 2013. This paper will account for 30% of your final grade. More information on this assignment will be provided in class. An in-class final examination will be given on May 14, 2013. This exam will account for 30% of your final grade. More information on this assignment will be provided in class. Class participation will count for the remaining 10% of your grade. Class participation is

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measured by class attendance, class preparation (e.g., completing the assigned readings prior to class), and active participation during class discussions (e.g., asking questions, answering my questions, and not sleeping, reading a newspaper, surfing the web, etc.). Office Hours and Class Meeting Times: My office is located in 2135 LeFrak Hall. Office hours are Tuesday afternoons from 1:30 to 3:30. All other days and times are by appointment only. Contact info phone: 301-405-8070 and email: jlaub@umd.edu. This class meets Tuesdays, 4:00 to 6:45, in Tydings 1118. Academic Dishonesty and Honor Pledge: The University of Maryland, College Park has a nationally recognized Code of Academic Integrity, administered by the Student Honor Council. This Code sets standards for academic integrity at Maryland for all undergraduate and graduate students. As a student you are responsible for upholding these standards for this course. It is very important for you to be aware of the consequences of cheating, fabrication, facilitation, and plagiarism. For more information on the Code of Academic Integrity or the Student Honor Council, please visit http://www.shc.umd.edu. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Any student suspected of academic dishonesty will be referred to the Honor Council. To further exhibit your commitment to academic integrity, remember to sign the Honor Pledge on all examinations and assignments: I pledge on my honor that I have not given or received any unauthorized assistance on this assignment/examination. Students with Disabilities: Any student with a documented disability who wishes to discuss academic accommodations, please contact one of us by February 12, 2013. Course Outline: Jan. 29 Introduction and Overview of the Course: The Idea of Theory in Criminology Readings: Bernard, Snipes, and Gerould, Ch. 1 Cullen and Agnew, Introduction and Part I Sources of Criminological Data and the Correlates of Crime Readings: Mosher, Miethe, and Hart, whole book Cullen and Agnew, Part XIII Classical and Neo-Classical School Perspectives Readings: Bernard, Snipes, and Gerould, Ch. 2 Cullen and Agnew, Parts X and XI Biological and Psychological Theories Readings: Rowe, whole book

Feb. 5, 12

Feb. 19

Feb. 26

Bernard, Snipes, and Gerould, Ch. 3 & 4 Cullen and Agnew, Part II Mar. 5 Social Disorganization Theories and Contemporary Theories of Community Processes Readings: Bernard, Snipes, and Gerould, Ch. 7 Cullen and Agnew, Part III Strain Theories Readings: Bernard, Snipes, and Gerould, Ch. 5, 6 & 8 Cullen and Agnew, Part V SPRING BREAK MIDTERM EXAMINATION Cultural Deviance, Differential Association, and Social Learning Theories Readings: Bernard, Snipes, and Gerould, Ch. 9 Cullen and Agnew, Part IV Control Theories Readings: Bernard, Snipes, and Gerould, Ch. 10 Cullen and Agnew, Part VI Labeling, Conflict, Critical, and Feminist Theories Readings: Bernard, Snipes, and Gerould, Ch. 11-14 Cullen and Agnew, Parts VII-IX Current Issues in Theory and Research: A Focus on Developmental/Life-Course Theories of Crime, Integrated Theories of Crime, and the Future of Criminological Theory and Research Readings: Bernard, Snipes, and Gerould, Ch. 15-17 Cullen and Agnew, Parts XII and XIV FINAL EXAMINATION

Mar. 12

Mar. 19 Mar. 26 Apr. 2, 9

Apr. 16

Apr. 23*, 30

May 7

May 14

Reminder: All papers are due at the start of class.

SUPPLEMENTAL READING LIST CCJS 651 Seminar in Criminology Sources of Criminological Data and the Correlates of Crime Gove, Walter R., Michael Hughes, and Michael Geerken. 1985. "Are the Uniform Crime Reports a Valid Indicator of Index Crimes?" Criminology 23:451-501. Maxfield, Michael G. 1999. The National Incident-Based Reporting System: Research and Policy Applications. Journal of Quantitative Criminology 15:119-149. Huizinga, David and Delbert S. Elliott. 1986. "Reassessing the Reliability and Validity of Self-Report Delinquency Measures." Journal of Quantitative Criminology 2:293-327. Thornberry, Terence P. and Marvin D. Krohn. 2000. The Self-Report Method for Measuring Delinquency and Crime. In CJ 2000: Innovations in Measurement and Analysis, edited by David Duffee, Robert D. Crutchfield, Steven Mastrofski, Lorraine Mazerolle, David McDowall, and Brian Ostrom. Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice. Steffensmeier, Darrell J., Emilie Andersen Allan, Miles D. Harer, and Cathy Streifel. 1989. "Age and the Distribution of Crime." American Journal of Sociology 94:803-831. Steffensmeier, Darrell J. 1993. "National Trends in Female Arrests, 1960-1990: Assessment and Recommendations for Research." Journal of Quantitative Criminology 9:411-441. Hindelang, Michael J., Travis Hirschi, and Joseph G. Weis. 1979. "Correlates of Delinquency: The Illusion of Discrepancy Between Self-Report and Official Measures." American Sociological Review 44:995-1014. Elliott, Delbert S. and Suzanne S. Ageton. 1980. "Reconciling Race and Class Differences in SelfReported and Official Estimates of Delinquency." American Sociological Review 45:95-110. Laub, John H. 1987. "Data for Positive Criminology." Pp. 56-70 in Positive Criminology. Michael Gottfredson and Travis Hirschi (editors). Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications. Hawkins, Darnell F., John H. Laub, and Janet L. Lauritsen. 1998. "Race, Ethnicity, and Serious Juvenile Offending." Pp. 30-46 in Serious and Violent Juvenile Offenders. Rolf Loeber and David P. Farrington (editors). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. Blumstein, Alfred, Jacqueline Cohen, Jeffrey Roth, and Christy Visher. 1986. "Introduction: Studying Criminal Careers." Pp. 12-30 in Criminal Careers and "Career Criminals, Volume I. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press. Weis, Joseph G. 1986. "Issues in the Measurement of Criminal Careers." Pp. 1-51 in Criminal Careers and "Career Criminals, Volume II. Alfred Blumstein, Jacqueline Cohen, Jeffrey Roth, and Christy Visher (editors). Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press. Gottfredson, Michael and Travis Hirschi. 1986. The True Value of Lambda Would Appear to Be Zero: An Essay on Career Criminals, Criminal Careers, Selective Incapacitation, Cohort Studies, and Related Topics. Criminology 24:213-234. Elliott, Delbert S. 1994. "Serious Violent Offenders: Onset, Developmental Course, and Termination." Criminology 32:1-21.