Course Syllabus

This is the schedule for weeks 1-15.

Week 1 Begins Tuesday 1/23 Ends Monday 1/29 - Introductions

Syllabus Reading: Read the course syllabus. You are responsible for knowing and following all the information there.

Textbook Reading: No reading in our book, read this brief article instead.

Criminology by Chester L. Britt Arizona State University West, Phoenix, Arizona

https://www.sciencedirect.com/sdfe/pdf/download/eid/3-s2.0-B0123693985002723/first-page-pdf

“Criminology is a wide-ranging interdisciplinary field that encompasses the study of crime and the criminal justice system. Criminological research focuses on issues related to the causes and consequences of crime, delinquency, and victimization, as well as the operation of the criminal justice system, with an emphasis on police, courts, and corrections. Because of the wide range of topics studied within criminology, researchers have required a variety of different methods to address various topics.”

Discussion: Write a 350-400 word essay in which you discuss your education and career plans and goals, to include CCV, any college you plan to attend after CCV (or that you’ve already attended) and your professional working world plans. Discuss how you see your study of the material in this course assisting in each stage of your education and work.

An answer of this length should be two to three correctly written paragraphs. This assignment serves the dual purpose of us getting to know one another and gives me a chance to assess your writing skills. Writing at a full college level is vital to your success in our class. See the grading rubric in week 1 for details.

This is due by Friday 6 pm VT time. Same due times each week. Put the assignment due times in your phone or calendar now, set alerts, and set reminders for enough time in advance to complete your work before it's due.

THEN - answer any questions I ask you by 11 pm Saturday VT time. These instructions apply for the whole semester. Be sure you have the due times in your calendar/device/phone for the whole semester and schedule time before they're due to get your work done, do this for the whole semester.

*Week 2 Begins Tuesday 1/30 Ends Monday 2/5 - Crime, Criminal Justice, and Criminology part 1

Read: Chapter 1 – Crime, Criminal Justice, and Criminology Read section 1.1 Crime and the Criminal Justice System starting on page 11 through Section 1.7 The Three C’s: Cops, Courts, and Corrections ending on page 35.

Discussion: You’ll recognize this self-assessment from pages 9-10 of our book. Write a three to four sentence, no more, no less, response to each statement in which you explain why the statement is true, or not, or accurate, or not. You’ll need to do some basic online research, this is the week to start working with our Vermont State Colleges librarians, see link at course screen left and at the library tile in our portal. You must use authoritative (reliable) research sources. You may not know whether a site is authoritative or not, so working with our librarians will help you develop skills you’ll use all semester. Share these instructions with our librarians so they know how to guide you. Use correct APA in-text citations and a References section. Follow directions for this from the library link above, and or work with Mr David White in our LCOL (Learning Center Online Live), contact information is in the LCOL tile in our portal.

Don’t type the question at the start of your answer, we all know what the questions are. Number each answer to correspond to the question. There is no right or wrong answer, rather this is to get you thinking and researching.

1. Black Americans commit more crime than any other racial group.

2. The United States has the lowest recidivism rates in the world (return to prison).

3. The death penalty is cheaper than life imprisonment.

4. Politicians shape our thoughts on crime, even if they are inaccurate.

5. Children are most likely to be killed by a stranger.

6. A stranger is most likely to physically harm you.

7. White-collar crime costs our country more every year than street-crime.

8. Juveniles are more violent today than ever before.

9. Immigrants commit more crime than native-born people.

10. Violent crime has risen in the United States over the last 20 years.

*Week 3 Begins Tuesday 2/6 Ends Monday2/12 - Crime, Criminal Justice, and Criminology part 2

Read: continuing in Chapter 1, read section 1.8 The Crime Control and Due Process Models through section 1.15 Victim Rights and Assistance that ends on page 64. Also read Vermont’s laws about victim rights. They are found in two sections of the Vermont Statutes, Title 13 (there are 33 total Titles of Vermont law, dealing with Crime to Property to Taxation and much more). This link is to the official site of the statutes at the Vermont Legislature’s site. Crimes and Criminal Procedure (vermont.gov) and Crimes and Criminal Procedure (vermont.gov)

Discussion: You’ll recognize most of these questions from our book. Select one (1) and write a 350-400 word essay that you research using our book, the footnotes in our book at the bottom of some pages, and our librarians if you need more research. Don’t copy the question into your answer, instead use the number I gave it below so we know what question you’re answering.

1) From Section 1.8: Discuss what the primary goal of the criminal justice system should be: to control crime, ensure due process, or both? Explain how this opinion may get influenced by individual factors, such as age, gender/sex, race/ethnicity, economic situation, a country born in, and more. Could goals change if more education was given to the public about criminal justice? If so, make an argument in favor of education. If not, make an argument against educating the public on criminal justice issues. OR

2) From Section 1.9: Provide an example of discretion, which can be from a teacher in school, a dean, an officer, a judge, or boss. Describe how that person’s use of discretion impacted your life outcomes today. As an example (don’t write about this), you were breaking the speed limit driving to the hospital because a family member had just been rushed there by ambulance. An officer pulled you over for speeding an you explained the situation. The officer was understanding, gave you a verbal warning only, and let you go, cautioning you to stay at the speed limit the rest of your drive. OR

3) The fear of immigrants bringing crime to the United States is popular rhetoric right now, especially among politicians who use it to misinform and scare the public who are perhaps as ill-informed as politicians are. The links in our book are mostly no longer active so instead of using them, work with our librarians to find authoritative, current sources of information about whether immigration causes or adds to crime in the US currently and in the recent past. OR

4) Find a case for each tier of the wedding cake model in the news (2023 or 2024) in Vermont and write a 100-150 word summary of where it fits and why. Also discuss how news coverage may influence the case outcome in court and in public opinion. Working with our librarians will help you to narrow your search to Vermont crimes. Sadly, there are plenty to choose from at each level of the wedding cake model. OR

5) Some people have an undercurrent of belief, perhaps not even conscious, whereby they blame victims of crime for being victims. Statements such as “she shouldn’t have been wearing a short skirt” or “he flashed that fancy watch and wad of cash” or “they have an expensive car in the driveway” and more perpetuate the idea that victims are somehow responsible for being victims. They’re not. At a prosecutor trial skills training I attended years ago, a gifted Assistant United States Attorney (federal prosecutor) said “it’s against the law to be a criminal, it’s not a crime to be a victim.” Well said. Where does victim blaming come from and how can we stop it?

*Week 4 Begins Tuesday 2/13 Ends Monday 2/19 - Defining and Measuring Crime and Criminal Justice

Read: Chapter 2 Defining and Measuring Crime and Criminal Justice section 1.1 Dark or Hidden Figure of Crime starting on page 69 through section 2.5 Misusing Statistics ending on page 86.

Discussion: Re-read the Dark Figure of Crime box on page 67 and the Some Reasons People May Not Report section below it. Then envision three scenarios where people may not report crimes, leading to the dark figure of crime expanding. If you draw on personal experience or knowledge you must change the names, dates, and any identifying information. You’re also welcome to create realistic scenarios that are fictional. Write a 100-150 word answer for each scenario you create, number them 1) 2) 3). Explain how the victim’s and or witnesses’ decision not to report the crime (if they even knew it happened, or knew it was a crime) would lead to the dark figure of crime expanding.

*Week 5 Begins Tuesday 2/20 Ends Monday 2/26 – Criminal Justice Policy

Note – we do not cover chapter 3, another of CCV’s classes, Criminal Law, covers it.

Read: Chapter 4 Criminal Justice Policy section 4.1 Importance of Policy in Criminal Justice through section 4.5 Re-evaluating Policy ending on page 156.

This is a week when we have a Vermont law that our book discusses from the perspective of Oregon law. Here’s our Vermont law about a parent’s tort law (civil law) liability for harm their minor aged child (under age 18) cause. Vermont Laws Read the law and consider all the related content in our chapter.

Discussion:Having read Vermont’s law mentioned above, write a 350-400 word essay in which you answer the following questions.

1) What public policy was the Vermont Legislature encouraging when it passed the original version of this law in 1959? We still have the law in effect all these years later, has the need for the law increased since 1959 and if yes, in what ways? If you need to work with our librarians on some research please do so, remember to show them the assignment. Keep track of the research sources you use because you’ll need to write citations. This should be one paragraph of 175-200 words.

2) For your second paragraph of 175-200 words think about other societal issues in Vermont today that have a public policy behind them. Topics could include use of Narcan by EMS crews when people are overdosing, legalizing marijuana, raising the drinking age to 21, raising the age to buy tobacco products to 21, placing homeless people in motels at state expense during Covid and as an ongoing program, setting the state highway speed limit at 65 mph, and other topics you may be interested in. Conduct appropriate research with our librarians and explain the policy and why Vermont has laws about it. If you’re unsure if your topic fits this assignment email me first to double check – don’t assume or guess that your topic will be relevant.

*Week 6 Begins Tuesday 2/27 Ends Monday 3/4 – Criminological Theory part 1

Read: Chapter 5 Criminological Theory section 5.1 What is Theory? starting on page 159 through section 5.2 What Makes a Good Theory? ending on page 162.

Discussion: You’ll recognize these questions from our book. This will get us thinking about the major part of our study this semester. Answer each question in a 75 to 80 word answer. Don’t type the questions, instead number your answers to correspond to the questions.

1. How do we know what theories explain crime better than other theories?

2. How did the classical theory of crime influence the American criminal justice system?

3. Why is it difficult to study biological theories of crime without thinking about the social environment?

4. Which theory do you think explains criminal behavior the best? Why?

5. Why do you think there have been so many different explanations to describe the origins of criminal behavior?

*Week 7 Begins Tuesday 3/5 Ends Monday 3/11 – Criminological Theory part 2

Read: Chapter 5 section 5.3 Pre-Classical Theory starting on page 163 through section 5.4 Classical School ending on page 166.

Discussion: Some of the readings this week may seem antiquated; we may ask ourselves how could anyone have thought what Comte, Beccaria, and Bentham were espousing as the causes of crime. At the same time some of their theories had glimmers of reality in them. Write a 350-400 word essay where you discuss three of the early criminology theories that have been debunked by modern social science, and were you also discuss three theories from that period that have some relevance in today’s view of the causes of crime.

*Week 8 Begins Tuesday 3/12 Ends Monday 3/18 – Criminological Theory part 3

Read: Chapter 5 section 5.5 Neoclassical starting on page 167 through section 5.6 Positivist Criminology ending on page 171.

Discussion: Our three theories this week are Rational Choice Theory, Routine Activities Theory, and Positivist Theory. In a 350-400 word essay explain why you believe one of them is a better explanation for why people commit crimes. Why are the other two theories weaker in your view? You may find it helpful to work with our librarians to locate and read the sources mentioned in the footnotes, and or to do some basic additional research into any of these theories. Remember to use citations.

*Week 9 Begins Tuesday3/19 Ends Monday 3/25 – Criminological Theory part 4

Read: Chapter 5 section 5.7 Biological and Psychological Positivism starting on page 172 through section 5.8 The Chicago School ending on page 175.

Discussion: The theories in this week’s readings may have you thinking that they are discriminatory, untrue, and not based on empirical research, and you’d be mostly correct. In a 350-400 word essay explain the major objections you can identify to this week’s theories. If anyone advanced those theories today, what response would they likely receive from society? As always feel free to use the footnoted sources for further research, and or work with our librarians to find additional research sources.

*Week 10 Begins Tuesday 3/26 Ends Monday 4/1 – Criminological Theory part 5

Read: Chapter 5 section 5.9 Strain Theories starting on page 176 through section 5.10 Learning Theories ending on page 182.

Discussion: Pick any well-known crime that’s taken place in Vermont in 2023 or 2024. You may want to work with our librarians to search newspaper databases at the library if no crimes come to mind. This assignment will work best if the crime has been solved by police and the offender is known and has been identified to the public. Consider the theories we’ve learned through this week. Which theory best explains why the offender committed the crime? Which theory is the second best explanation? What theory or theories seem to have no relevance in explaining why the offender committed the crime. Write a 350-400 word answer.

*Week 11 Begins Tuesday 4/2 Ends Monday 4/8 - Criminological Theory part 6

Read: Chapter 5 section 5.11 Control Theories starting on page 183 through section 5.12 Other Criminological Theories ending on page 187.

This is the final reading week in our book, however keep the link handy because you’ll refer to our book for the rest of the semester.

Discussion: Select one of the options below and write a 350-400 word answer.

1) Control theory suggests that we’re all criminals at heart, at least possibly, but that most of us have sufficient controls in our life to persuade us away from a life of crime. What controls in your life, past and present, have kept you on track to be a college student and not a criminal? Which of the controls have been most important to you, which have been less important? OR

2) Complete the Crime and Gender Exercise on page 187, copied here: “Write about how you were raised and how sex/gender roles were reinforced through school, family, culture, etc. Do you think men/boys/males are more criminal because of their biology or because of cultural expectations of men/boys/males versus women/girls/females? You should support your claims with personal, vicarious, or well[1]known examples.”

*Week 12 Begins Tuesday 4/9 Ends Monday 4/15 - Criminal Justice Reform – week 1

View: 13th by director Ava DuVernay about mass incarceration in the United States. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krfcq5pF8u8

Discussion: Write a 300-350 word essay of two paragraphs about your response and reaction to Ms. DuVernay's film. What moved you, what distressed you, how will you use your career in criminal justice to change the current, sad reality in our nation that this film exposes.

*Week 13 Begins Tuesday4/16 Ends Monday4/22 – Criminal Justice Reform – week 2

View and Read: This week you’ll view one online documentary: True Justice about the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) and its founder and director, attorney Bryan Stevenson. Also read the EJI website. Note: there’s a lot of information at the site, give yourself plenty of time to read it all. Bookmark it for future use. https://eji.org/projects/true-justice/

Discussion - Write a 300-350 word answer of two paragraphs about any aspect of attorney Stevenson’s, and the EJI’s work. Explain why you viewed those issues and or cases as especially important and discuss how this week’s video and website readings have affected and influenced you.

*Week 14 Begins Tuesday 4/23 Ends Monday 4/29 - TED Talks week 1

The primary goal of the weeks 14 and 15 assignments is to assess if students can use the critical thinking skill called issue spotting which means being able to understand what something is about (TED Talks) that relate directly to topics we studied over the semester. If you think of this as a final exam-type assessment of your learning and skills you're accurate.

Discussion: TED Talks Week – go to: https://www.ted.com/ and find the tab at top of screen Discover. First item is Topics. At Topics scroll to C and open topics for Crime or Criminal Justice OR at Topics scroll to A and open topics for Addiction OR at Topics scroll to B and open topics for Brain (make sure they have a CJ connection) at Topics scroll to E for Education or scroll to F for Forensics or scroll to G for Guns OR J for Justice System or L for Law OR N for Narcotics OR T for Trafficking or V for Violence OR P for Poverty. If you find a Talk under another topic heading and you’re interested in it, view it and see if it fits this assignment. If you find and watch a Talk and you’re not sure it fits this assignment, email me with the link, and type your proposed “how this relates” section (see template below) and we’ll discuss whether it’s an appropriate Talk for you to use.

The thesis of a Talk is one-to-two sentence(s) that concisely state what the author seeks to prove in giving the Talk. The summary of Talk is 200-250 words that state what the Talk is about. The two are different. Be sure you understand what a thesis statement is and then craft your thesis statement for each Talk.

Copy the bolded headings into your posting and put both Talks in one posting box. Do not copy the un-bolded words into your answers.

My TED Talks
#1

Full Title of Talk:

Author’s Name:

Thesis of Talk: Not sure how to do this? http://guidetogrammar.org/grammar/composition/thesis.htm Read all of it and focus on the short paragraph just above the yellow box, and the contents of the yellow box. One to two sentence limit for this section.

Summary of Talk: 200-250 word limit for this section. That means a minimum of 200 words and a maximum of 250 words.

How Does This Talk Relate to our Class Readings, Discussion, and Learning? This should include a focused explanation of the week, topic, chapter, section number, case(s), website(s) from our class that relate to your Talk. 200-250 word limit for this section. That means a minimum of 200 words and a maximum of 250 words.

Link to Talk: give the URL for the Talk.

Use same format in one posting for Talk 2.

*Week 15 Begins Tuesday 4/30 Ends Monday5/6 – TED Talks week 2

Do not use a Talk that any classmates used in week 14. The opportunity to use someone else's work is too great so please don't use any week 14 Talks. Go back to week 14 and make a list of the Talks each of your classmates used, and look for two Talks for this week that no one used last week. There are many criminal justice related Talks to choose from.

Discussion: TED Talks Week Again! Using the same directions from week 14 find two (2) Talks you didn't use last week and complete the assignment.

END of course