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Student Participation Requested: Anonymous Online Survey

Dear Students,

I hope this message finds you well. I am conducting an online survey to gather valuable insights about students’ perceptions of location-based, crowd-sourced public safety apps like Citizen and Nextdoor and would greatly appreciate your participation.

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Okay Monday Let's Do This

Welcome to Week 6!

We are in Week 6 of course. This week we will start the discussion of biological perspectives in criminology. All the study materials are contained in Week 6 unit. Don't forget to participate in the discussion forum! We are progressing very nicely on our assignments. If you are still working on Short Assignment 1, you will have time to finish it this week. For the rest of you, I posted Short Assignment #2 this morning. I will post a short video about this assignment shortly.

WEEK 6 (10/2 to 10/9): Biological Perspectives in Criminology

Welcome to a week of exploration into the biological explanations for criminal behavior. This unit will delve deeply into the positivist theory, one of the critical approaches in understanding criminal actions from a biological standpoint. The positivist approach essentially involves the rigorous application of the scientific method to discern and diagnose pathologies and determine their appropriate treatments in relation to criminal behavior. This perspective has been significant in criminology, providing a framework for understanding the biological basis of criminality.
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End of the week update

I would like to remind you that Quiz 2 will be administered next week, with a due date of October 8th. I will make sure to announce it widely when it comes out.

I am glad that you are being …

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Welcome to Week 5!

You're doing an awesome job with this online course! I've really noticed your active participation, from acing the first quiz to actively engaging in the discussion forums and turning in your first assignment. Keep up the fantastic work, and remember, there are still 10 more weeks of this course to enjoy!

WEEK 5 (09/26 to 10/01): Neoclassical Thought: The Rational Choice and Routine Activities Theories

Neoclassical theories of crime are based on the same basic assumptions as the Classical School. However, neoclassical theorists recognize that there are a number of factors that can influence an individual's decision to commit a crime, including situational factors and individual characteristics. Neoclassical theories of crime are based on the assumption that individuals make rational choices about whether or not to commit crimes
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Welcome to Week 4!

Dear students,

We will cover this week our first criminological theories – Beccaria’s and Bentham’s contributions to the Classical School of Criminology. Your new unit will provide you with the study materials. There is a new discussion forum, as …

Crimonology: Week 4

WEEK 4 (9/18 to 9/24): Classical Thought: Beccaria and Bentham

This week we will delve into the contributions of Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham, as well as the enduring relevance of their theories in modern criminology. Classical criminology is a school of thought within criminology that emerged during the Enlightenment period in the 18th century.

Quiz 1 is Posted

Dear students,

I have posted the first quiz in OpenLab. In order to take it, you need to be logged into OpenLab. You have three attempts to take it, and I will only use the highest score for the grade …

New Week New Goals

Welcome to a new week!

Over the weekend I posted the new unit for your attention. We will be focusing on crime measurements in the United States. In the past three years, police departments nationwide have embraced new ways of collecting crime data and transmitting data to the FBI.

WEEK 3 (9/11 to 9/17): Crime Measures and Crime Trends

Overview

This week we focus on how we gather information about crime, the strengths and weaknesses of official police statistics, and alternative data sources used in criminology:

Understanding the prevalence and patterns of crime is a crucial aspect of criminology …

Week 2

Welcome to New Week!

Dear students,

This week we are finally starting with the discipline of criminology. We will review the definition of the discipline as well as we will study what constitutes crimes. You can read and explore this by going to the …

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Wrapping Up the First Week: Check-In

Dear students,

As we conclude this week, I want to take a moment to acknowledge your remarkable progress in the course. Your dedication and hard work have truly shined, and I’m excited to share the strides we’ve collectively made.

Throughout …

Week 2 Unit

WEEK 2 (9/5 to 9/10): What is Criminology and What is Crime

During the second week of our course, our focus will delve into a comprehensive exploration of the concept of crime. We will strive to attain a profound comprehension of the nuances underlying our discussions on crime. Additionally, we will establish a clear definition of criminology as an academic discipline, and we will examine a variety of theoretical frameworks through which crime can be approached.

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Week 1 (08/25 -09/03): Introductions

In this first week, we will take our time to go over some fundamental information. This will be a great time to organize your schedule so you devote regular time to the course. Stop by my first office hours on ZOOM or in person so we can chat.

Short Assignment #4

Do you think we must rethink how we enforce traffic laws in cities and suburbs? Do traffic stops accomplish their task of deterring unsafe driving?

Read the article in the New York Times that highlights how police chiefs, prosecutors, and …

Short Assignment #3

Learning Objective: Identify the extent to which the theories of criminology have been applied both in practice and in policy.

In completing this assignment, you will learn how to present a theory in your own words and apply it to

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Short Assignment #2

Learning Objective: Identify the extent to which the theories of criminology have been applied both in practice and in policy.

For this assignment, I would like you to think about how your neighborhood or community tries to prevent criminal activity.

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Short Assignment #1

Learning Objective: Describe the history, structures, and purpose of criminology.

Over the course of several days, browse the print or online editions of a major U.S. newspaper. Identify and record the various types of crimes reported in the news over …

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Welcome to Week 10!

This week we will be discussing the Chicago School of Criminology. This theoretical branch focuses on understanding how neighborhood-level variables are connected to crime rates. We will review the work of Burgess and Park, their concentric zones map, and the seminal work of Shaw and McKay. We will also review more contemporary approaches to studying social disorganization. Make sure to do the readings and view the videos and the PowerPoint for this week. Don't forget about the discussion forum, either.