Seminar 6Seminar 6Chapters 9 & 10Chapters 9 & 10

Project for Unit 6Project for Unit 6

Due by midnight on Tuesday, July 20.Due by midnight on Tuesday, July 20. Review the project description under Review the project description under

the Unit 6 tab. the Unit 6 tab. Review the Project 6 grading rubrics Review the Project 6 grading rubrics

in the syllabus.in the syllabus. Choose a specific population you feel Choose a specific population you feel

is vulnerable in terms of crime.is vulnerable in terms of crime.

Project for Unit 6Project for Unit 6 Begin your paper with a discussion on Begin your paper with a discussion on

the particular population and the the particular population and the issues that surround that population.issues that surround that population.

Explain why you chose this group for Explain why you chose this group for this project.this project.

Using the readings in this unit and the Using the readings in this unit and the videos, discuss the social influences videos, discuss the social influences on the criminals you have chosen. Be on the criminals you have chosen. Be sure to use the concepts and theories sure to use the concepts and theories you learn about to substantiate your you learn about to substantiate your ideas.ideas.

Project for Unit 6Project for Unit 6

Discuss the following questions: Discuss the following questions: Of what use is intervention and prevention Of what use is intervention and prevention

for this population? for this population? What needs to be done in the American What needs to be done in the American

justice system to combat crimes justice system to combat crimes committed by the group you have chosen committed by the group you have chosen to study?to study?

Finally, discuss how the issues Finally, discuss how the issues attached to the chosen population and attached to the chosen population and the social issue of crime affect society.the social issue of crime affect society.

Project for Unit 6Project for Unit 6 The websites listed in the Reading tab The websites listed in the Reading tab

of this unit will be helpful to you.of this unit will be helpful to you. Your project should be between 500 Your project should be between 500

and 900 words, double spaced, not and 900 words, double spaced, not including your title and reference page.including your title and reference page.

While no points will be deducted if APA While no points will be deducted if APA formatting is incorrect, points can be formatting is incorrect, points can be deducted if there is no attempt to cite deducted if there is no attempt to cite references. references.

Other AnnouncementsOther Announcements

Unit 6 Project due by midnight Unit 6 Project due by midnight tomorrowtomorrow

Kaplan Writing Center Workshops Kaplan Writing Center Workshops (schedule posted in announcements)(schedule posted in announcements)

Other important information posted Other important information posted in the course announcements – in the course announcements – please readplease read

Any questions, concerns, issues?Any questions, concerns, issues?

Chapter 9

Crime and Crime and DelinquencyDelinquency

Myth or Fact?Myth or Fact?

Many crimes are Many crimes are committed by people who committed by people who are otherwise considered are otherwise considered quite respectable by quite respectable by themselves and othersthemselves and others..

Crimes are Crimes are committed by the committed by the less educated less educated people of society.people of society.

Fact Myth

Explanations of CrimeExplanations of Crime

Biological explanations view crime as arising from

people’s physical

constitution or genetic makeup.

Psychological explanations view crime as being linked to

personality disorders or

maladjustments, often developing

during childhood.

Crime and Crime DataCrime and Crime Data

Crime Crime an act that violates a criminal code an act that violates a criminal code

enacted by an officially constituted enacted by an officially constituted political authority. political authority.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)(FBI) publishes an annual document called the publishes an annual document called the

Uniform Crime Report (UCR), which Uniform Crime Report (UCR), which summarizes the crime statistics collected summarizes the crime statistics collected by law enforcement agencies each monthby law enforcement agencies each month

Types of CrimeTypes of Crime

Juvenile Delinquency

Victimless Crime

White-Collar Crime

Organized Crime

Property Crime

Violent Crime

Crime Rate in the U.S.Crime Rate in the U.S.

According to the FBI,According to the FBI, the crime and delinquency rates in the the crime and delinquency rates in the

U.S. have been rising for a number of U.S. have been rising for a number of decades decades

the rise appears to have leveled off in the the rise appears to have leveled off in the 1980s and declined somewhat since the 1980s and declined somewhat since the early 1990s.early 1990s.

Increases may reflect a likelihood to Increases may reflect a likelihood to report crime rather than a increase in report crime rather than a increase in the incidence of crime. the incidence of crime.

Who are the Criminals?Who are the Criminals? GenderGender

Males have higher rates of involvement in practically Males have higher rates of involvement in practically all forms of criminality. all forms of criminality.

AgeAge Teens have considerably higher rates of involvement. Teens have considerably higher rates of involvement.

Socioeconomic StatusSocioeconomic Status The relationship between socioeconomic status and The relationship between socioeconomic status and

crime is probably more complicated and may be crime is probably more complicated and may be weak.weak.

RaceRace Differences in arrest rates between racial groups Differences in arrest rates between racial groups

exist; however, they may merely reflect criminal exist; however, they may merely reflect criminal justice biases, such as the likelihood of arrest. justice biases, such as the likelihood of arrest.

Who are the Victims?Who are the Victims?

Twenty-three out of every one Twenty-three out of every one thousand Americans are crime victims thousand Americans are crime victims each year.each year.

Race and sex affect rates of Race and sex affect rates of victimization with males and blacks victimization with males and blacks considerably more likely to be victims.considerably more likely to be victims.

Offenders are often the victims of Offenders are often the victims of other criminals. other criminals.

The Criminal Justice SystemThe Criminal Justice System

The PoliceThe Police The police have much discretion and do The police have much discretion and do

not receive the support of the public or the not receive the support of the public or the court.court.

The courts The courts There is substantial case attrition following There is substantial case attrition following

arrest.arrest. Plea bargaining is involved in over 90% of Plea bargaining is involved in over 90% of

all convictions for criminal offenses.all convictions for criminal offenses.

The Criminal Justice SystemThe Criminal Justice System

Sentencing and PunishmentSentencing and Punishment The criminal justice system has become The criminal justice system has become

more punitive as seen in “three-strikes” more punitive as seen in “three-strikes” legislation, and “blended sentencing.”legislation, and “blended sentencing.”

The Prisons The Prisons The rate of incarceration has quadrupled The rate of incarceration has quadrupled

since 1975.since 1975. Prison overcrowding makes it harder to Prison overcrowding makes it harder to

achieve the goal of rehabilitation. achieve the goal of rehabilitation.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009

FIGURE 9.5 Sentenced Prisoners in State and Federal Institutions, 1925-2005

Future ProspectsFuture Prospects To control crime, social reforms that have To control crime, social reforms that have

an impact on the social conditions that an impact on the social conditions that cause crime are needed.cause crime are needed.

The legalization of some crimes would free The legalization of some crimes would free police to deal with the more serious crimes.police to deal with the more serious crimes.

The police could institute new law The police could institute new law enforcement procedures that would allow enforcement procedures that would allow them to capture the most serious them to capture the most serious offenders. offenders.

The courts could be made more effective The courts could be made more effective through judicial reform.through judicial reform.

Future Prospects Future Prospects Alternatives to prison and prison reform Alternatives to prison and prison reform

could be enacted to improve the could be enacted to improve the effectiveness of social control mechanisms. effectiveness of social control mechanisms.

There could also be a reduction in the There could also be a reduction in the environmental opportunities to commit environmental opportunities to commit crimes. crimes.

More opportunities for victim restitution More opportunities for victim restitution could be established through programs and could be established through programs and policies.policies.

DiscussionDiscussion

Can you think of any ideas for Can you think of any ideas for alternatives to prison to improve the alternatives to prison to improve the effectiveness of social control effectiveness of social control mechanisms? In other words – what mechanisms? In other words – what else could we do with criminals to else could we do with criminals to deter crime and maintain social order deter crime and maintain social order besides sending them to prison?besides sending them to prison?

Chapter 10Chapter 10Alcohol and DrugsAlcohol and Drugs

Myth or Fact?Myth or Fact?

Heroin addicts are Heroin addicts are as likely to be as likely to be high on alcohol as high on alcohol as heroin when they heroin when they commit crimes.commit crimes.

The most serious The most serious drug problem in drug problem in the U.S. is the flow the U.S. is the flow of heroin, cocaine of heroin, cocaine and marijuana and marijuana from overseas.from overseas.

Myth Fact

What is a Drug?What is a Drug?

A drug is any substance A drug is any substance that, when consumed, that, when consumed,

alters one or more of the alters one or more of the functions of the human functions of the human

body.body.

The Social Costs of Drug AbuseThe Social Costs of Drug Abuse

Accidents Accidents Alcohol consumption is associated with Alcohol consumption is associated with

fatal traffic, airplane and occupational fatal traffic, airplane and occupational accidents. accidents.

CrimeCrime In most major cities over half the people In most major cities over half the people

arrested for all crimes test positive for arrested for all crimes test positive for some illegal drugs.some illegal drugs.

The Social Costs of Drug AbuseThe Social Costs of Drug Abuse

Family ProblemsFamily Problems Alcoholics are seven times more likely to Alcoholics are seven times more likely to

become separated or divorced from become separated or divorced from their spouses.their spouses.

Studies find that 29-71% of spouse Studies find that 29-71% of spouse abusers were drinkers at the time of the abusers were drinkers at the time of the attack. attack.

The Social Costs of Drug AbuseThe Social Costs of Drug Abuse

Work ProblemsWork Problems People who abuse alcohol have higher People who abuse alcohol have higher

rates of absenteeism, are more likely to rates of absenteeism, are more likely to jump between jobs, are more likely to be jump between jobs, are more likely to be fired and are more likely to be involved fired and are more likely to be involved in workplace accidents. in workplace accidents.

Health ProblemsHealth Problems Most psychoactive drugs that are taken Most psychoactive drugs that are taken

in large quantities produce severe in large quantities produce severe health effects and even death. health effects and even death.

Extent of Drug Abuse in the U.S.Extent of Drug Abuse in the U.S.

AlcoholAlcohol Alcoholism is the consumption of alcohol Alcoholism is the consumption of alcohol

at a level that produces serious at a level that produces serious personal, social, or health personal, social, or health consequences.consequences.

People with certain social characteristics People with certain social characteristics are more likely to become alcoholic.are more likely to become alcoholic.

Rates of alcoholism vary by gender, age, Rates of alcoholism vary by gender, age, religion and socioeconomic status.religion and socioeconomic status.

Extent of Drug Abuse in the Extent of Drug Abuse in the U.S.U.S.Types of Drugs

Marijuana

Stimulants

Depressants

Narcotics

Hallucinogens

FIGURE 10.4 Percentage of People Who Have Used Any Illicit Drugs in thePast Month, by Age, 1980-2005

Biological & Psychological Biological & Psychological ExplanationsExplanations

Biological explanations Biological explanations suggest that hereditary factors may be suggest that hereditary factors may be

involved in people’s proneness to involved in people’s proneness to addiction to various drugsaddiction to various drugs

Psychological explanations Psychological explanations suggest that abuse arises from some suggest that abuse arises from some

psychological process or is the result of psychological process or is the result of some emotional or personality disordersome emotional or personality disorder

Future ProspectsFuture Prospects

Drug abuse is a serious and complex Drug abuse is a serious and complex problem for which there is not an easy problem for which there is not an easy answer. answer.

Some programs can help mitigate some of Some programs can help mitigate some of its more serious consequences.its more serious consequences. Prohibition Prohibition LegalizationLegalization PreventionPrevention Rehabilitation Rehabilitation Behavior Modification Behavior Modification

DiscussionDiscussion

We learned in this presentation that We learned in this presentation that juveniles are at a high risk for both juveniles are at a high risk for both drug/alcohol abuse and crime. drug/alcohol abuse and crime.

What do you think are the What do you think are the contributing factors to juvenile contributing factors to juvenile delinquency and what can you do or delinquency and what can you do or have you done in your community to have you done in your community to help youth move away from criminal help youth move away from criminal behavior?behavior?