Criminology

Soc 330, sect 2                                                                                                Dr. Nofziger

T Th 10:45-12:00                                                                                             Office: Olin Hall 264

Olin Hall 105                                                                                                   Hours: TH 1:30-3pm and

Email: sn18@uakron.edu                                                                                              by appointment

Web: http://gozips.uakron.edu/~sn18/                                                   Phone: 330-972-5364

 

"Criminology is the body of knowledge regarding crime as a social phenomenon. 

It includes within its scope the process of making laws, of breaking laws,

and of reacting toward the breaking of laws…"

(Sutherland and Cressey 1960: 3)

Course Description

Crime is a topic we hear about constantly but what do we really know about it?  Why are certain types of behavior called "crimes" while others that also harm society are not?  Why are some social groups more involved in crime than others?  What causes crime and how can we prevent it?  To answer these questions it is necessary to develop an understanding of the theories and findings within the field of criminology.  Through our discussions and readings, this course will help you enhance your ability to critically analyze the common knowledge assumptions concerning crime and develop a clearer understanding of crime as a social phenomenon.  Specifically in this course we will first examine various perspectives on how crime should be defined and measured.  The remainder of the course will develop your understanding of the major theories in the field of criminology.  Throughout the semester we will compare “conventional” crime to other forms of deviant and criminal activities. 

 

Course Objectives

Over the course of the semester we will discuss many different specific issues.  However, you should notice several consistent themes.  By the end of this course, I hope you will be able to:

1.  critically evaluate media images and "facts" about criminology.

2.  understand and be able to compare the major theories in criminology.

3.  discuss the relative harms done by various crimes.

 

Readings:

Conklin, John E.  2007.  Criminology, 9th edition.  Boston, MA: Pearson.

 

In addition to this text, you will also occasionally be assigned external readings.  These will be available as a PDF file on the course web page.  I highly recommend you print out a copy for yourself and bring it to class on the day it is due to facilitate our discussion.  You are also expected to write short reactions to three of these articles (discussed in more detail below).  Some of these readings are listed in the syllabus, but others will be introduced over the course of the semester to give us some flexibility to focus on topics of interest to the class and to bring in recent publications or current topics. 

 

Student Responsibilities:

This course combines a variety of writing assignments, tests, and in class work to help you understand the material in this course.  The assignments are discussed in depth in this syllabus.  Lectures and readings are both necessary to do well in this class. Therefore, I highly recommend coming to class everyday and keeping up on the reading.  Coming to class is crucial, both for what we discuss and because there are substantial points that are awarded during class.  I do not allow you to make up in class points.  The purpose of these points is that you participate in the discussions with your fellow students.  Therefore, you must attend, be on time, and stay the whole period or you may miss these points.  If you are absent the day an assignment is due, or on the day of a test, you must either turn in the work prior to class or make arrangements with me for other options.  It is NOT sufficient to email me or call right before class saying you will not be there. 


Your Grade

 

Assignment                   Due Date   Poss Points        Your Points                

Tests                            Oct 3rd            100                 

Nov 2nd            100     

                                    Dec 12th           100                                                     

                                               

Topic Paper                 Sept 19th            25

Criminology v Media    Oct 24th             50

Explaining Crime           Nov 28th          100

 

Reading Responses       Varied                15

                                                              15

                                                              15                                                                 

                                               

In Class Work              Varied               30                                                     

Total points possible                             550                                                     

                                                                                                                       

What Grades Mean

A= Exceptional work. Consistently apply, compare, critically evaluate and discuss material. 

B= Very good work. Apply material and clearly develop discussions and arguments.

C= Average work. Accurately describe material but little development of arguments.

D= Below average work.  Problems defining concepts or completing course work.

F= Unacceptable work.

 

Class Policies

Makeup Policy:  I do not give make up tests unless you have made prior arrangements with me.  If there is an emergency, you must contact me through phone or email prior to the test in order to make up the exam. 

Attendance:  If you must miss a class, it is your responsibility to get any notes or announcements.  To avoid distractions, I expect you to arrive on time and only leave after class is dismissed.  I also do not allow the use of beepers, cellular phones or other devices that make distracting noises so turn off all such items before entering the class.

Retention of Graded Materials: Instructors will make a good faith effort to return all graded materials to students in a timely manner during the semester.  The instructor will retain material that is not returned during the semester for one additional semester.  Instructors may retain material beyond this date, but are not required by the department to do so.

Registration:  University policy dictates that: "Students whose names do not appear on the university's official class list will not be permitted to participate (attend class, take exams, or receive credit)."

Withdrawal:  University policy mandates: "A student may withdraw from a course without an adviser's or course instructor's signature through the 14th day of a semester; and up to the midpoint of the semester, a student may withdraw from a course with the signature of the student's adviser.  After the midpoint of a semester, a student must have the signature of both the course instructor and the adviser.  Such authorization must be dated and processed through the offices of the Registrar and the Cashier no later than the last day of the 12th week of classes.”

Plagiarism and Cheating: Plagiarism is a violation of the University's Student Code of Conduct. Any incident of plagiarism in this class will be dealt with severely.  The penalty for plagiarism or cheating will depend on the nature of the offense.  The minimum penalty is a grade of zero for that assignment, while more extensive plagiarism or cheating will result in a course grade of "F" and the filing of charges of Academic Misconduct.

Changes to the Syllabus.  Students are responsible for any changes in the syllabus that are announced in class.  Having missed class that day is no excuse for not complying with the change. 

Canceled Classes:  If classes are canceled for snow or any other reason on an exam day, the exam will be held during the next regularly scheduled class session.  If this occurs on the last day of the semester or during finals week, information on the date and time of the exam will be posted outside the sociology department office (OLIN 247), on the sociology department web page (http://www.uakron.edu/sociology). 


Schedule*                                                            Readings                      Assignments

Defining and Measuring Crime 

                Aug 29:  Introduction to Course     

                Aug 31:  Defining crime                                                     ch 1                                       

Sept 5:    Major Data Sources, Key Facts                        Ch 2:  pp. 27 (Official Crime Statistics) to 48

Sept 7:    Dimensions of Crime                                          Ch 4                                                       

Sept 12:  Types of Crime: Conventional                          Ch 3 to page 69                    

Sept 14:  Non-Conventional Crime                                   Ch 3, 69 - end

Sept 19:  Data Analysis / Excel Tutorial

Sept 21:  Corporate Violence                                                                                            

Sept 26:  Moral Panics                                                         Reading: Creating Crime Myths

Sept 28:  Drugs and Society                                               Reading: Casualties of the Drug War

                Oct 3:  Test One

Criminological Theory: Social Structure and Values                                                                

                Oct 5:    Classical Theory, Intro to Positivism Ch 2: pp. 24-27

Oct 10:  Biological and Psychological Positivism           ch 5

Oct 12:  Theory outside the box                                        Reading: Where Have All The Criminals Gone?

Oct 17:  Economic Structure and Capitalism                    Ch 6: to page 156 (Anomie, Strain, and Crime)              

Oct 19:  Strain and the American Dream                           Ch 6: pp.  156 – 161 (Social Class, Values)

Oct 24:  Culture and Value Formation                               Ch 6: pp.  161 to 168 (Gender)                                           

Oct 26:  What happens when values uncertain?

Oct 31: Feminist Criminology                                             Ch 6: 168-178                                                                                        

Nov 2:  Test 2

Criminological Theory: Social Interactions

Nov 7:  Social Control of Behavior, Drift                          Ch 7: pp.  179-189 (Social Control)                                   

Nov 9:  Social Control Theory                                           Ch 7: Social Control pp. 189-212

Nov 14:  Learning Crime                                                      Ch 8: pp 213-231

Nov 16:  Labeling / Self-Control                                       Ch 8: pp. 232 -end

Nov 21:  Opportunities                                                        Ch 9

Nov 23:  NO CLASS – Thanksgiving Break

Nov 28:  Criminal Careers                                                   Ch 10                                                                                                     

Nov 30:  Reactions to Crime                                               Ch 12

Dec 5:  Fitting theory to Criminal Justice                         Ch 14     

                Dec 7:  Last day - Solving the problem of crime              Ch 15                     

 

                Dec 12thh: Final Exam – Tuesday Noon -1:55pm 

 

*  EXACT DATES MAY SHIFT TO ACCOMMODATE THE NEEDS OF THE CLASS.  ANY CHANGES WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN CLASS.