Ryerson University

Faculty of Arts
Department of Criminology
CRM 101 031 – UNDERSTANDING CRIME IN CANADIAN SOCIETY

Remote Delivery Version

COURSE OUTLINE
Fall 2020

INSTRUCTOR: C.J. HOLLINGSHEAD

Email: cjh@ryerson.ca

Every effort will be made to manage the course as stated. However, adjustments may be
necessary at the discretion of the instructor. If so, students will be advised and alterations
discussed in the class prior to implementation.

It is the responsibility of students to ensure that they understand the University’s policies
and procedures, in particular those relating to course management and academic
integrity.
https://www.ryerson.ca/criminology/students/current-students/student-handbook/

This course is designated as a lower level Liberal Studies course. Liberal studies
courses always have the designation (LL) or (UL) in their course description in
the Ryerson Calendar. Courses not identified as either (LL) or (UL) are NOT Liberal
Studies courses and will not be used towards the fulfillment of a Liberal Studies
Requirement for graduation purposes.

Calendar Description

This course is designed to give students the background and knowledge to think critically
about information on crime and the social response to it in Canada. Students will learn
about how we come to know about crime and criminality, and will conclude with a
detailed analysis of one or more specific crimes (eg. homicide, prostitution or illicit drug
use) in order to apply the concepts and materials presented throughout the term.
(Formerly JUS 101.) CRM 101 is not available for credit to students who choose CRM
102.

Required Text

Siegel, L. J. & McCormick, C. Criminology in Canada: Theories, Patterns, and

Typologies 7th edition (Scarborough: Thomson Nelson, 2020).
© C.J. Hollingshead, Ryerson University, September 2020. Professor Hollingshead holds the copyright in the works of all original
materials used in this course and students registered in this course can use the materials for the purposes of this course but no
other use is permitted, and there can be no sale or transfer or use of the work for any other purpose without explicit permission
of Professor Hollingshead.
Access to the Internet

Students should be aware that access to a computer and a stable internet connection
are a requirement of the course.

The instructor is certainly available to provide help to students who are new to online
learning.

But indeed, some familiarity with computers and the internet is a must.

Method of Instruction
Remote delivery of course materials (textbook readings, powerpoint slides with lecture
notes) and tests/exams will be administered on Brightspace. Learning will also take place
through Virtual Office Hours, ‘Discussions’ on Brightspace and also through email.

Remote Delivery

No Lectures

There will be no formal lectures with the remote delivery of the course.

Textbook Readings

Students are be expected to keep up with the assigned textbook readings for each week.

PowerPoints

Powerpoints will be posted for each week’s topic/chapter on Brightspace under ‘Content’.
There will be lecture notes posted at the bottom (under) some of the slides. It is important that
students study the powerpoints as well.

Contacting the Instructor

Email:

Students may email the instructor at any time. Emails will be returned within 48 hours
(Monday-Friday excluding weekends).

© C.J. Hollingshead, Ryerson University, September 2020. Professor Hollingshead holds the copyright in the works of all original
materials used in this course and students registered in this course can use the materials for the purposes of this course but no
other use is permitted, and there can be no sale or transfer or use of the work for any other purpose without explicit permission
of Professor Hollingshead.
Virtual Office Hours:

Students who would like to communicate with the instructor through 'virtual office
hours' on 'Zoom' may do so by emailing the instructor for an appointment.

A link will then be sent to the student for the meeting.

Virtual Office Hours will be held Tuesday’s 1:10 pm – 2:00

pm through 'Zoom'/’Google Meet’.

Discussions:

‘Discussions’ are available under ‘Communication’ on Brightspace.

Here students can ask questions of each other and the instructor and have discussions on
a variety of topics regarding the course material on Brightspace.

Course Schedule

(Please note: the ‘Study Questions’ are meant to be helpful guidance and provide practice
for the Mid-term Test and Final Exam – they DO NOT have to be answered and
submitted).

Sept 8 Introduction to the Course and Criminology in Canada

Concepts of Crime, Law, and Criminology
Crime and Criminology
Readings: Siegel & McCormick, Chapter 1

Sept 15 The Criminal Law and its Process

Readings: Siegel & McCormick, Chapter 2

Study Questions: What are the specific aims and purposes of the criminal
law? To what extent if the criminal law aimed at controlling social harm?

Sept 22 The Nature and Extent of Crime

Readings: Siegel & McCormick, Chapter 3
*Academic Integrity in Space Certificates Due - 3%

Study Questions: How would you explain gender difference in the crime
rate? Do you think males are more violent than females? Why or why not?
© C.J. Hollingshead, Ryerson University, September 2020. Professor Hollingshead holds the copyright in the works of all original
materials used in this course and students registered in this course can use the materials for the purposes of this course but no
other use is permitted, and there can be no sale or transfer or use of the work for any other purpose without explicit permission
of Professor Hollingshead.
Sept 29 Victims and Victimization
Readings: Siegel & McCormick, Chapter 4

Study Questions: Does a person bear some responsibility for his or her
victimization if he or she maintains a lifestyle that contributes to the
chances of becoming a crime victim? That is, should we “blame the
victim”? Why or why not?

Oct 6 Theories of Crime and Causation

Choice Theory, Trait Theory
Readings: Siegel & McCormick, Chapters 5 and 6

Study Questions: Is it possible to create a method of capital punishment

that would actually deter murder, for example, be televising executions?
What might be some of the negative consequences of such a policy?

Oct 13 Study Week -- No class

Oct 20 Mid-Term Test -- 31%

Oct 27 Social Structure Theories, Social Process Theories

Readings: Siegel & McCormick, Chapters 7 and 8

Study Questions: How would biosocial theories explain the high levels of
violent crime in lower-class areas? Can you think of ways you may have
supported your peers’ or siblings’ antisocial behaviour by helping them
learn criminal techniques or attitudes?

Nov 3 Social Conflict Theory

Readings: Siegel & McCormick, Chapter 9

Study Questions: If Marx were alive today, what would he think about the
prosperity enjoyed by the working class in industrial societies? Might he
alter his vision of the capitalist system?

© C.J. Hollingshead, Ryerson University, September 2020. Professor Hollingshead holds the copyright in the works of all original
materials used in this course and students registered in this course can use the materials for the purposes of this course but no
other use is permitted, and there can be no sale or transfer or use of the work for any other purpose without explicit permission
of Professor Hollingshead.
Nov 10 Crime Typologies
Violent Crime
Readings: Siegel & McCormick, Chapter 10
*Essay Assignment Due – 35%

Study Questions: Should hate crimes be punished more severely than

crimes motivated by greed, anger, or revenge? Why should crimes be
distinguished by the motivation of the perpetrator? Is hate a more heinous
motivation than revenge?

Nov 17 Property Crimes

Readings: Siegel & McCormick, Chapter 11

Study Questions: Differentiate between an occasional and professional

criminal. Which would be more likely to resort to violence? Which would
be more easily deterred?

Nov 24 Crimes of Power: White-Collar, Corporate, and Organized Crime

Readings: Siegel & McCormick, Chapter 12

Study Questions: Apply traditional theories of criminal behaviour to

white-collar and organized crime. Which theory best predicts why
someone would engage in these behaviours?

Dec 1 Public Order Crimes: Legislating Morality, Crimes in the 21st

Century
Readings: Siegel & McCormick, Chapters 13 and 14

Study Questions: Some researchers conclude that if pornography

consumption per se is not a cause of aggression toward women, it may
still be a contributing factor. Is it possible that sexually aggressive men
are drawn to images in pornography because it reinforces their pre-
existing hostile orientation to sexuality? Why or why not?

TBA Final Exam – 31%

© C.J. Hollingshead, Ryerson University, September 2020. Professor Hollingshead holds the copyright in the works of all original
materials used in this course and students registered in this course can use the materials for the purposes of this course but no
other use is permitted, and there can be no sale or transfer or use of the work for any other purpose without explicit permission
of Professor Hollingshead.
Method of Student Evaluation

Academic Integrity in Space (Sept 22) 3%

Mid-term Test (Oct 20) 31%
Essay Assignment (Nov 10) 35%
Final Exam (TBA) 31%

Academic Integrity in Space

The Academic Integrity in Space is an interactive, virtual quiz where students go head-
to-head with Captain Plague and the League of the Unearned to learn about academic
integrity (Senate Policy 60) and to earn certificates from the planets Ethica, Originon,
and Independus.

Students who earn three (3) certificates must submit the certificates to the dropbox on
Brightspace under ‘Assessment’ and ‘Assignments’.

Students who submit all three certificates satisfactorily will receive 3% in participation
marks.

The Academic Integrity in Space certificates are due on or before Tuesday September
22nd 2020 – please note there will be NO extensions to this deadline after which time
the dropbox will close.

Mid-term Test and Final Exam

Administered

Both the Mid-term Test and the Final Exam will be administered electronically on
Brightspace under ‘Assessment’ and ‘Quizzes’.

Mid-term Test

Date: Tuesday October 20th 2020

Time: 1:10 pm – 1:55 pm

Final Exam

Date: TBA
Time: TBA

Students should ensure they are available at this date and time, as there will be
NO changes to this date and time.
© C.J. Hollingshead, Ryerson University, September 2020. Professor Hollingshead holds the copyright in the works of all original
materials used in this course and students registered in this course can use the materials for the purposes of this course but no
other use is permitted, and there can be no sale or transfer or use of the work for any other purpose without explicit permission
of Professor Hollingshead.
Format

Both the mid-term test and the final exam will consist of a variety of multiple choice
questions drawing on textbook readings, powerpoints slides, and lecture material (notes
included on the bottom of the powerpoint slides).

Neither will be cumulative, meaning material from an earlier part of the school term will
not be used (or retested).

Tested Material

Textbook chapters 1-6, powerpoints from each of those weeks and the lecture notes
included on the slides will be on the Mid-term Test.

Textbook chapters 7-14, powerpoints from each of those weeks and lecture notes
included on the slides will be on the Final Exam.

The mid-term test is worth 31% and the final exam is worth 31% of your final grade.

Essay Assignment

This assignment asks you to examine a recent news story dealing with a crime in Canada,
the media’s role, societal issues and the role of legal/policy systems in this country. You
will be expected to apply some of the criminological theories, concepts and/or themes
we have learned about crime and criminology in Canada so far, to your particular article.
For this you will choose a newspaper article that discusses a crime in the community, that
interests you, then, you will then write a critical/analytic essay about the case/story/issue(s),
society’s response, and the challenges with dealing with this crime in our community. The essay
will draw links between the article, course materials and some of the theories and concepts we
have learned about crime and criminology in the course. At a minimum, the essay must draw on
at least four (4) theories, concepts and/or themes to provide context for and discussion of crime
in Canada. Below is a breakdown of the evaluation for the project.

Due Date: Tuesday November 10th, at 1:10 pm – electronically to the

Dropbox on Brightspace under ‘Assignments’
Required length: 5-6 pages double spaced (not including title page or reference
page)
Worth: 35% of your final mark

Papers must be typed, double spaced, 12 point font, with 1 inch margins.

© C.J. Hollingshead, Ryerson University, September 2020. Professor Hollingshead holds the copyright in the works of all original
materials used in this course and students registered in this course can use the materials for the purposes of this course but no
other use is permitted, and there can be no sale or transfer or use of the work for any other purpose without explicit permission
of Professor Hollingshead.
Criteria for essay grading

Your essay will be graded using the following criteria, assessing, the quality of your
analysis/argument (this includes your comprehension, interpretation and critical
analysis of the course materials); the structure of your essay (how well you develop a
clear, coherent line of argument); originality and creativity; integration of course
materials (this includes direct references to and citation of course readings); and how
well you follow instructions. Problems with organization, logic and clarity, as well as
errors in grammar, spelling and syntax will figure significantly in the grading process, so
thoroughly review and edit your essay prior to submitting it.

Turnitin

Students taking this course agree that course work may be subject to submission for
textual similarity review to Turnitin.com for the detection of plagiarism. All submitted
papers and term work will be included as source documents in the Turnitin.com reference
database solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers. Use of the
Turnitin.com service is subject to the terms of agreement posted on the Turnitin.com
website. Students who do not want their work submitted to this plagiarism detection
service must, by the end of the second week of class, consult with the instructor to make
alternate arrangements.

Posting of Grades

Grades will be posted electronically on Brightspace by D2L.

General Course Notes

Email

Ryerson’s email policy clearly states that only Ryerson e-mail accounts are to be used
for communication with students and with the Instructor. This will be the only email
address that the Instructor will use to communicate with students and the Instructor may
not respond to any other addresses. See:
http://www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/pol157.pdf

Late Policy

The essay is due at the beginning of class – electronically to the Dropbox on

Brightspace under ‘Assignments’. Any essay not submitted at the beginning of class
will incur a 5% penalty (instructors have the discretion to accept work without penalty
for up to 15 minutes following the beginning of class). It is expected that you will hand
in all assignments on the specified due date, unless arrangements have been made with
© C.J. Hollingshead, Ryerson University, September 2020. Professor Hollingshead holds the copyright in the works of all original
materials used in this course and students registered in this course can use the materials for the purposes of this course but no
other use is permitted, and there can be no sale or transfer or use of the work for any other purpose without explicit permission
of Professor Hollingshead.
the instructor at least 1 (one) week before the due date. If no arrangements are made,
late papers will be penalized by 5% plus 5% per work day (excluding weekends), and
may not receive comments.

Papers more than 10 days late will NOT be accepted without the explicit permission
of the instructor. You are responsible for ensuring that your assignments are handed
in on time.

Emailed essays will NOT be accepted. Always keep a copy of your work, as well as
your rough notes. NO MARKS WILL BE GIVEN OVER EMAIL.

Religious Observances and Other Considerations

It is the responsibility of individual students to inform the professor of any situation

which arises during the semester which may have an adverse effect on their academic
performance, and students must address these issues as soon as is practicable. In the case
of a conflict due to religious observance (e.g. non-attendance of a test due to observance
of a religious holiday), students must, where possible, inform the professor during the
first two weeks of class or as soon as the conflict becomes evident. In the case of medical
or compassionate grounds, the professor must be informed as soon as possible and, in
any case, not more than three days after missing a test or other deadline. Medical or other
documentation may be required. Students receiving Academic Accommodation
Support through Student Learning Support (SLS) must abide by the policies and
procedures established by Student Learning Support (SLS), and provide the professor
with the appropriate documentation with respect to accommodation in advance. Failure
to abide by these policies may result in a grade of zero, or jeopardize any academic
appeals.

Student Responsibility

*Students are responsible for all assigned materials (students are required to read the
entire assigned textbook chapter each week), whether or not these are specifically
discussed in the powerpoints.

Ownership of Intellectual Property

Students are NOT permitted to publicly post, through websites such as
oneclass.com, etc, course materials that the instructor has created. This includes
lecture notes, power-point slides, and other supplementary materials for this class. These
materials are provided to students in this class for the purposes of this class only. It is
copyright infringement of the instructor’s intellectual property for you to upload verbatim
transcripts of lectures or materials provided such as power-point slides.
© C.J. Hollingshead, Ryerson University, September 2020. Professor Hollingshead holds the copyright in the works of all original
materials used in this course and students registered in this course can use the materials for the purposes of this course but no
other use is permitted, and there can be no sale or transfer or use of the work for any other purpose without explicit permission
of Professor Hollingshead.
Academic Misconduct
Academic integrity is vital to the well-being of the university community, and Ryerson
University takes academic misconduct very seriously. Academic misconduct includes
plagiarism, which involves presenting the words and ideas of another person as if they
were your own, and other forms of cheating, such as buying papers, handing in the same
assignment to more than one class, and so on. The penalties for academic misconduct
can be very severe. Students are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with the
full definition of, procedures related to, and penalties for Academic Misconduct. See:
Academic Integrity Website www.ryerson.ca/ai/

In some cases, the Instructor may ask to see your rough or original work. For your own
protection, make two copies of your written work – one to hand in and one for your files
– and keep all research notes and graded assignments until the end of the term.

For student resources and/or more information on definitions of, and how to avoid,
academic misconduct, see: The Student Code of Academic Conduct
www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/pol60.pdf

Students are also reminded that the Writing Centre offers writing support. See:
http://www.ryerson.ca/writingcentre/

Last Date to Withdraw

The Undergraduate Calendar date to withdraw from a course and remain in good
academic standing is Monday December 7th 2020.

© C.J. Hollingshead, Ryerson University, September 2020. Professor Hollingshead holds the copyright in the works of all original
materials used in this course and students registered in this course can use the materials for the purposes of this course but no
other use is permitted, and there can be no sale or transfer or use of the work for any other purpose without explicit permission
of Professor Hollingshead.