University of Colorado Denver
School of Public Affairs
CRJU 2041-001 Crime Theory & Causes
Fall 2016
Instructor: Jennifer L. Brinkley, JD, MA
Telephone: 270-799-7577
Email:
Office Hours: By appointment
Catalog description: This course provides a general survey of the nature and causes of crime and efforts of the criminal justice system to predict, prevent, modify and correct this behavior. This course involves a critical appraisal of various theories of crime causation, including an examination of biological, psychological, economic, and sociological perspectives that explain crime and deviance. Semester hours: 3.0.
Course objectives: This course exposes students to literature regarding the development of criminology. It provides a general survey of the causes of crime and efforts to formulate prevention techniques. This course will seek to answer several questions: How is crime defined? Who makes that definition? What are the concepts and theories, classical and contemporary, that drives our thoughts about crime and punishment? How is crime measured? Is jail an appropriate punishment for offenders? If not, than what is? How do criminologists determine effective and appropriate punishment? Is there a relationship between “effective” and “appropriate” punishment, and if so, who determines that definition?
This course will critically evaluate the importance of punishment philosophy as well as historical, political, and empirical trends leading to theory development. As each criminological theory is reviewed, the following should be kept in mind: If this theory is the correct way to define crime, how can criminologists apply it in developing successful avenues to reduce or prevent future criminal action?
As this is an online course, it is important for students to view this course as a collective process in which both the student and teacher are equally involved in material discussion. This course should enable the student to feel confident in discussing not only crime theory and causes but also ways to apply those criminological theories to scholarly ideas of preventing crime. The student should complete this course with the skills to assess each theory discussed regarding its strengths, weaknesses, and policy implications.
Course materials: This course is taught entirely online. Students must have reliable access to a computer and the Internet. Failure to secure reliable Internet access is not a valid excuse for neglecting to submit assignments on time or for not taking the final exam during the scheduling time period. Basic computer literacy is assumed; if this is problematic, the Instructor must be notified early in the semester.
Required texts (available at the University Bookstore and online):
Lilly, J. Robert, Cullen, Francis T., & Agnew, Robert. (2015) Criminological Theory:
Context and Consequences (6th ed.). Los Angeles: Sage Publications.
(Be aware that should the student obtain an older edition of the text the assignments or readings may be different in older editions.) There will also be additional reading materials posted online throughout the semester.
EACH STUDENT IS REQUIRED TO SUBSCRIBE VIA EMAIL TO THE CRIME REPORT, AN ONLINE NEWS SERVICE THAT SENDS EMAIL ALERTS IN A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER. GO TO . Enter your email address to obtain updates. Each student will need to sign up no later than August 30, 2016 to obtain these updates as will begin discussing the updates in class.
Assignments:The course will involve three exams, class participation/discussion board/quizzes, and a final paper. All assignments must be turned in using a Word(.doc or .docx) format, size 12, Times New Roman font.
Grades:
Exam 1100
Exam 2 100
Exam 3100
Class Participation/Discussion Board/Quizzes100
Final Paper100
Total Points500
A=100-93%; A-=92-90%; B+=89-87%; B=86-83%; B-=82-80%; C+=79-77%; C=76-73%; C-=72-70%; D+=69=67%; D=66-63%; D-=62-60; F=59-0%. Grades are calculated on an absolute scale, no curve will be used.
CLASS PARTICIPATION IS IMPORTANT. There will be occasional weekly quizzes to ensure the readings are being completed. This will be counted under the class participation points, along with discussion board points.
Course policies: Late work will not be accepted, except in very rare circumstances which will include harsh penalties. If an exam or paper is due at 12:00pm, it will not be accepted at 12:01pm. Students are expected to manage their time in a way so to meet deadlines set in this class.
This course, by its online nature, requires active participation. Completing each reading assignment is vital for what we discuss in class. Please be prepared for assignments by complying with the reading schedule. The student must respond to the discussion board posting when made by the Instructor. The response must be scholarly in nature and not just a brief, generic response.
Final paper: The final paper will be a research paper. The student will need to choose one crime theory and one story read in The Crime Report. (In limited circumstances, an area of particular interest to the student may be researched as long as approved by the Instructor and may include additional requirements.) Further research will need to be conducted on the story presented by The Crime Report. The student will need to explain the story and why the theory they chose explains how and why this type of criminal activity occurs. The student will also need to make an argument regarding punishment and how it appropriately addresses the theory and story chosen.
For example, on April 2, 2013, The Crime Report had a story about 12 Florida “Stand Your Ground” cases where the law protected individuals similar to the Trayvon Martin case where offenders pursued others, initiated a confrontation, then applied deadly force to defend themselves. The student would need to cut and paste the story, along with the e-mail date, to the citation sources page at the end of the Final Paper so I can check that it came from The Crime Report. The student would choose a crime theory to apply to the pursuers and research other cases similar to the Trayvon Martin case and discuss said cases with the applied crime theory. There would also need to be a discussion regarding punishment and why the punishment may or may not “fit” the crime. All argument needs to be backed up with appropriate sources. You will receive more details on the final paper once the semester begins.
Course schedules:
These dates/assignments are subject to change at the instructor’s discretion. If classes are cancelled as noted below, the student does not have a responsibility to log in to Canvas on that date for discussion or any other purpose. Any video lectures will be posted on Canvas.
Dates:Material Covered/Tasks
Week 1: 8/22The Context & Consequences of Theory
Read Chapter 1 in Cullen & Agnew
(pages 1-12)
The Search for the Criminal Man
Read Chapter 2 in Cullen & Agnew
(pages13-34)
Week 2: 8/29The Chicago School and Social
Disorganization
Read Chapter 3 in Cullen & Agnew
(pages36-64)
Week 3: 9/5Anomie/Strain Theories of Crime
Read Chapter 4 in Cullen & Agnew
(pages65-93)
Week 4: 9/12Exam 1
Week 5: 9/19Control Theory
Read Chapter 5 in Cullen & Agnew
(pages94-113)
Week 6: 9/26Complexity of Control Theory
Read Chapter 6 in Cullen & Agnew
(pages114-148)
Week 7: 10/3Labeling Theory
Read Chapter 7 in Cullen & Agnew
(pages149-175)
Week 8: 10/10Conflict Theory
Read Chapter 8 in Cullen & Agnew
(pages176-206)
Week 9: 10/17Exam 2
Week 10: 10/24Feminist Theory
Read Chapter 10 in Cullen & Agnew
(pages 248-284)
Week 11: 10/31White-Collar Crime
Read Chapter 11 in Cullen & Agnew
(pages 285-316)
Week 12: 11/7Conservative Criminology
Read Chapter 12 in Cullen & Agnew
(pages 317-349)
Week 13: 11/14Final Paper is due by 12:01AM on November 19,
2016—feel free to submit it early.
***NO CLASSES NOVEMBER 21-27, 2016—FALL BREAK!!!***
Week 14: 11/28Life-Course Theory
Read Chapter 16 in Cullen & Agnew
(pages 427-460)
Week 15: 12/5Exam 3
Week 16: Finals week…good luck in the rest of your courses!
Course communication: In addition to announcements made online, I may need to contact you throughout the semester between posted assignments. I will do this through individual and group e-mail messages. One of the requirements for this course is that you maintain an e-mail address, check it regularly for messages, ensure that it is working, and let me know immediately if you change your e-mail address. You are responsible for any messages, including assignment and schedule changes, I send you via e-mail. You may also contact me via e-mail or calling me at 270-799-7577.
Civility: As this is an online course, we will all be expressing our ideas and thoughts about the various materials in writing. Feel free to challenge previously held ideas of your own and of your classmates, but do so in a scholarly and respective manner. Negativity has no place in this course. Please understand that insensitive, rude, and/or degrading statements WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Any type of inappropriate post or response will be dealt with accordingly, which may result in loss of participation points, a warning, or removal from the course.
BACJ Learning Competencies:
have a comprehensive understanding of the institutions in the criminal justice system and how varying theories affect these institutions;
have effective critical thinking, oral and written communication skills; through readings, posting in discussions and through written assignments;
understand how perceptions of the criminal justice system vary per prescribed theory, and how such differences influence policy and public perception;
understand the impact and interplay of public policy on the trends, solutions, and research in the field;and
have developed a basis for the skills necessary to perform information analysis; engage in critical thinking, problem solving, and evaluation.
Students called for military duty: If you are a student in the military with the potential of being called to military service and/or training during the course of the semester, you are encouraged to contact your school/college Associate Dean or Advising Office immediately.
Access, disability, communication: Students with disabilities who want academic accommodations must register with the Office of Disability Resources and Services (DRS). Once a student has registered, DRS will review the documentation and assess the student’s request for academic accommodations. DRS will then provide the student with a letter indicating which academic accommodations have been approved. They are located at the Student Commons Building, Suite 2116, and can be contacted at 303-315-3510.
Campus Assessment, Response & Evaluation (CARE): The Campus Assessment, Response &Evaluation (CARE) Team is committed to improving campus safety and student success at both CU Denver and CU Anschutz Medical Campus by proactively and collaboratively managing situations and individuals that pose, or may reasonably pose, a threat to the safety and well-being of the campus community. The team coordinates with students, faculty, and staff as well as concerned others, using objective and thoughtful approaches to identifying, assessing and intervening with individuals of concern. The team can be contacted at or 303-352-3579.
Academic honesty: Each student is expected to comply with an honor code. Plagiarism of any kind will result in a failing grade. Consult the University’s Student Conduct Code if you have any questions about the honor code.
Students at the undergraduate level should be familiar with academic writing and proper source citation. Any idea, concept, statement or summary that is taken from or guided by a published source (including internet websites) must be properly cited in all writing assignments. Students are expected to conform to the highest ethical standards regarding academic integrity. Plagiarism will NOT BE TOLERATED and will be DEALT WITH MOST HARSHLY. Lack of dishonest intent does not necessarily absolve a student of responsibility for plagiarism.When in doubt - cite a source!
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