Course Description and Syllabus Criminology

Have you ever wondered...

 Why people commit acts that harm others or violate the standards of acceptable behavior established
by society?
 Is there a connection between heredity and deviant or violent behavior?
 Are certain people predisposed to crime?
 Is it the environment which propels people into criminal activity?
 What should be done with people who commit crimes?
 Are all people equally responsible for their criminal behaviors or are there explanations which would
excuse them?

We will grapple with the numerous proposed explanations for criminal behaviors and examine the
effectiveness of present correctional strategies.

The popularity of the crime genre-- Criminal Minds, CSI, Bones, and Law and Order--has generated great
interest in the field of criminal justice. We will study current research, TV shows, films, and actual crimes to
better understand why people commit crimes and fluctuations in the crime rate.

Ultimately, you will analyze a famous (or infamous) crime and criminal.

By the end of this course you should be able to:

 Describe the goals of laws and why laws define criminal behavior.
 Identify different types of crimes.
 Identify the elements of crime and defenses to crime
 Examine competencies required for the legal process
 Examine the main biological, psychological and sociological theories of crime
 Apply theoretical principles of criminology to case studies.
 Analyze the different types of correctional programs.
 Analyze a well known crime and criminal.

Week 1 Why are laws needed?

This week's activities will focus on the following objectives:

 Understand the expectations of the course

 Learn how to communicate in an online course
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  Introduce yourself to your classmates
 Investigate dumb laws in your state
 Check your knowledge of the law
Week 2 Origins of Law

This week, we will tackle how it all began - the origins of written law. Was the world much simpler in
prehistoric times before laws were created? What brought about the need for laws? Why do we have so many
laws?

In this week's work, we will tackle the issue of why laws are needed.

We will examine the roots of the American system of justice and the importance of the U.S. Constitution in
providing order to our everyday existence and protecting the rights of the accused and convicted.

This week's activities will focus on the following objectives:

 Read about the earliest forms of written law.

 Explain the connections between early written laws and the U.S. Constitution.
 Become more familiar with the structure and content of the U.S. Constitution.
 Describe the rights afforded in the Bill of Rights to the accused and convicted in the U.S.

Week 3 Sources and Types of Law

Laws originate from many places. Local, state, and federal governments can all create laws. Laws have even
originated from Supreme Court decisions.

There are two main branches of law: public and private.

Public law includes those laws which protect both individuals and society in general from the harm of others.
For example, murder is a crime against an individual. It is considered a public law because it is in the interests
of society at large that people are not allowed to kill one another. A crime against society could involve drug
laws. Even though it seems that drug use would be considered harmful to the individual, it is considered a
general harm against society because of the potential actions of a person while on drugs.

There are also two main types of crimes: crimes against people and crimes against property.

Among these two varieties, there are many different types of specific crimes. A crime against people would be
murder or robbery, while a crime against property would be larceny (theft) or arson.

This week, we will look at the sources of laws and the many different types of laws. Before we can understand
why people commit crimes, we should understand the different types of crimes.

This week's activities will focus on the following objectives:

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  Understand the sources from which laws originate
 Understand the prevalence of crime
 Identify valid sources of criminal justice statistics
 Identify the different types of laws
 Analyze policy setting procedures in response to crimes through a case study

Week 4 Research Methods in Criminal Justice

The focus of this week is the different types of research methods used by social scientists, including those in
the criminal justice field. In order to better understand the prevalence of crime and possible explanations for
why people commit crime, research must be conducted. This week, we will examine the different types of
research methods used, the most commonly used sources of information for criminal justice research and the
importance of ethics in research. We will also explore the many career options for criminologists.
This week's activities will focus on the following objectives:

 Explore careers in criminology

 Identify research methods used in the field of criminal justice
 Analyze and apply research methods to use in test cases
 Identify the main sources of criminal justice statistics
 Evaluate the sources of research information
 Discuss the ethics of research, including the Stanley Milgram case.

Week 5 Elements and Defenses of Crime, Legal Competencies

The focus of this week includes the elements of a crime, defenses to crimes and the competencies at issue in
the legal system. For a defendant to be prosecuted for criminal actions, several elements must be present. For
example, is there harm to an individual or society? Has that injury come as a direct result of the defendant's
actions? Is there a punishment for this criminal behavior that is written into law? These are just some of the
elements of a crime that must be met before a person can be prosecuted in the legal system.

The first thing you are going to do is discuss how one defends oneself against criminal charges. Of course,
most people think of the insanity defense. This is only one type of defense, which in actuality is rarely used.
Someone may also claim self-defense or intoxication or even that s/he was provoked or trapped into
committing a crime. After reading about defenses, you can decide if these defenses offer legitimate excuses
for criminal behavior or if they just provide an excuse for illegal behavior.

Next, we will examine the different competencies in the legal system. Before someone is charged with a
crime, is s/he capable of providing a defense against the charges? Some people may not understand the
potential consequences of the legal system. What should be done with these people? There are also other
legal competencies to explore including confession, giving testimony, managing finances and determining
medical care.

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This week's activities will focus on the following objectives:

 Identify and apply the different elements of a crime

 Identify and apply the various legal competencies
 Identify and apply defenses used in the criminal proceedings
 Research and evaluate cases where sanity was challenged

Week 6 Biological Causes of Crime

Now that you understand the "why" that laws come from and the different types of crime, we begin our
examination of the causes of criminal behavior. Some of the early theorists suggested that criminal behavior
was caused by some biological defect or genetic configuration. For years, people have believed that the
tendency for criminal activity is pre-ordained by heredity. Some theorists propose that people are "born
criminals." Other theories suggest that, instead, it is the level of ones attractiveness, physique or physiology
that holds the greatest influence over criminal tendencies This week, we begin our search in earnest for the
answer to the question: What causes criminal behavior?
This week's activities will focus on the following objectives:

 Understand the different theories which attribute the roots of criminal behavior to biological causes.
 Discuss the validity of the different theories as explanations for crime.
 Debate the use of reconstructive surgery as a means to combat crime.
 Debate the validity and use of biological tests to determine genetic criminal tendencies.

Week 7 Classical School of Criminology

This week, we continue our exploration of the causes of criminal behavior. These theories are among those
considered the Classical theories.

The Rational Choice Theory suggests that in fact, at the time of its commission, a crime is a logical choice to an
offender. Criminal activity is chosen for the benefit it derives for the offender.

The Routine Activity Theory proposes that a crime will occur if there is a likely offender, a suitable target, and
surroundings that support a crime's commission.

The Deterrence Theory focuses not on why a crime is committed, but rather, why a crime is not committed.
This theory raises the question of the effectiveness of incarceration as a method to stop or reduce crime.

Do these theories offer plausible explanations for criminal activity? How do they compare with the Biological
causes of crime?

So this week, we continue our search for the answer to the essential question: What causes criminal
behavior?

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This week's activities will focus on the following objectives:

 Understand the different theories which attribute the roots of criminal behavior to various causes.
 Discuss the validity of the different theories as explanations for crime.

Week 8 Sociological Theories of Criminology Part I

The focus of this week are three criminological theories that focus on the environment's influence on criminal
activity.

 The Control Theory suggests that there are inner and outer controls which impact an individual's
decision to commit crimes. If these controls are not present, then a person will be more likely to
commit crimes. The theory focuses on why people do not commit crimes instead of why they do.
 The Social Disorganization Theory examines the environment in which people grow up. Studies have
revealed that the further away from the inner city business districts and slum areas, the less likely
people are to commit crimes. It is not merely the physical conditions of the environment that increase
the likelihood of criminal behavior, but rather the degree of social disorganization that exists in those
inner-lying communities.
 The Strain Theory explores the frustration that occurs when society deems the attainment of certain
goals desirable, yet does not provide equal access to the opportunities to attain those goals through
acceptable, legal means.

As you read about these theories, keep in mind as we discussed previously, that a good theory explains all
criminal behavior. To help you understand the components of these theories, we will examine white-collar
crime, crime that is committed by professionals generally in the context of their employment. Can these
theories effectively explain why white-collar crime exists or why people commit white-collar crimes? If not,
does it mean they are not good theories? What do you think?

This week's activities will focus on the following objectives:

 Understand the Control Theory.

 Understand the Social Disorganization Theory.
 Understand the Strain Theory.
 Examine the effectiveness of the Control, Social Disorganization and Strain theories in explaining all
types of crime.
 Understand the nature and prevalence of white-collar crime.
 Apply the Control, Social Disorganization, and Strain theories to white-collar crime.

Week 9 Sociological Theories of Criminology Part II

Are you a..........Gang member? Nerd? Good kid?

This week's theories are the Differential Association and the Labeling theories. Each theory studied so far
offers its own ideas as to the origins of criminal behavior. Some ideas seem to make more sense and can apply

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to all types of crimes, while others seem to be limited in their explanations. Which ones will be the basis for
your final project?

This week's activities will focus on the following objectives:

 Understand the Differential Association Theory

 Understand the Labeling Theory
 Explore a case study of the Labeling Theory
 Share your ideas about the Labeling theory and High School students
 Examine the validity of the Differential Association and Labeling Theories

Week 10 Psychology and Crime

There are many different factors that are considered by criminal justice professionals when determining an
offender's degree of dangerousness. It is the job of forensic psychologists to analyze these factors and give
recommendations for bail or treatment after conviction.

One of the factors considered by forensic psychologists is mental illness and violence. Much has been written
about the connection between violence and mental disorders. Are people with mental disorders more prone
to violence than those without mental disorders? What should the criminal justice system do with these
offenders?

Also on the docket for this week is a look at criminal profiling. What types of evidence are examined by
profilers? What helps them to identify an offender? As you will see this week, psychology plays an important
role in the criminal justice system.

This week's activities will focus on the following objectives:

1. Understand the standards used in determining the dangerousness of an offender/suspect in the

criminal justice.
2. Apply the standards of dangerousness to case studies.
3. Examine the connection between mental disorders and violence in the criminal justice system.
4. Conduct a case study of Antisocial Personality Disorder and its connection to the criminal justice
system.
5. Study the methods used by criminal profilers to find criminals (particularly serial criminals.)
6. Distinguish between organized and disorganized killers using case studies.
7. Continue work on the final project.

Week 11 Sentencing History of Corrections

The focus of this week will be on the punishment phase of the criminal process known as sentencing. This is
the point where the decision is made as to the treatment of the criminal offender.

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The component of the criminal justice system that deals with punishment is corrections. Since the inception of
laws, there has been much debate about what to do with people who violate the law. Should they be locked
up? Can they be rehabilitated? What can be done to prevent future criminal activity? Should the most horrific
offenses be punished with death? These are the questions that we will tackle this week.

This week's activities will focus on the following objectives:

 Identify the goals of sentencing.

 Read about the history of corrections.
 Understand the "pendulum" nature of attitudes about sentencing over the course of history.
 Compare the differing viewpoints on the death penalty.
 Share personal opinions on the death penalty.
 Analyzing the effectiveness of Drug and Mental Health Courts
 Advance work on the final project

Week 12 Prisons and Jails

One of the methods of treatment for criminal offenders is incarceration (placement in a secure correctional
facility with loss of freedom).

Prisons are large institutions that house many inmates; jails, on the other hand, are mainly intended to hold
suspects waiting for trial.

Over the past two decades, the "get tough on crime" philosophy has resulted in vast overcrowding and poor
living conditions in both prisons and jails.

Human rights groups, such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have worked to improve living
conditions and secure rights for prisoners, but their work has been difficult due to the presence of groups who
believe the purpose of corrections is to punish and deter future criminal offending.

As we explore the different facets of the correctional system, we will see the challenges of balancing humane
treatment of criminals with the punishment mentality.

This week's activities will focus on the following objectives:

 Learn about the present state of prisons in the United States.

 Learn about the present state of jails in the United States.
 Discuss prison conditions.
 Read about "Life without Parole" for juvenile offenders and discuss this topic.
 Continue with work on final projects.

Week 13 Community Based Treatment

With the vast overcrowding of prisons and jails, correctional authorities nationwide seek alternative methods
of treatment for criminal offenders. Many of these treatments are community-based programs. Probation and

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parole are the most common. However, over the past twenty years, home confinement or house arrest has
become more popular. The use of computers and satellite tracking systems in the past ten years have made
community-based programs even more effective, allowing for even greater supervision. This week, we will
examine the traditional community-based approaches such as probation and parole, as well as the more
modern methods using sophisticated tracking systems. We will also examine the controversial method of
chemical castration as a means of treating child molesters.
This week's activities will focus on the following objectives:

 Learn about the use of traditional community-based treatment for criminal offenders including
probation and parole.
 Read about the integration of computers with traditional methods of probation.
 Learn about the more recent community-based approaches of treatment including home confinement
and electronic monitoring.
 Read and discuss the issue of chemical castration as treatment for child molesters.
 Continue with work on final projects.

Week 14 Special Issues in Corrections

This week, we focus on special issues in corrections. We will examine the presence of females in the criminal
justice system and other considerations about today’s evolving definitions of gender. As the number of
females committing crimes increases, correctional systems are faced with the problem of how to treat them.
Should they be treated the same as male offenders?
Also, we will examine the problem of overcrowded prisons and what can be done to alleviate that
problem. And finally, we will compare the U.S. prison system with some others around the world.

This week's activities will focus on the following objectives:

 Examine issues related to female and LGBTQ prison population

 Consider different points of view about the problem of overcrowded prisons
 Develop a recommendation for reducing the prison population
 Compare prison systems around the world
 Complete the Final Project.

Week 15 Putting Theory into Practice

This is where you take all that you have learned in theory and apply it in practice. This is where the work of
criminologists becomes very important. Governmental authorities rely on the theories and research
conducted by these professionals to determine the course of treatment for criminal offenders. The main focus
of this week is responding to the final projects and to apply your newfound expertise in criminology to
contemporary issues.

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This week's activities will focus on the following objectives:

 Analyze and discussing contemporary issues in Criminology

 Read and analyze the projects of other groups
 Respond with thoughtful comments to other groups' projects
 Complete a course evaluation.

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