Criminological Theories

Instructions: Read all instructions and the essay questions thoroughly
before proceeding with the exam. I
strongly recommend outlining all the questions and your intended responses.
Answer the questions in the order of what I designated constitutes a good
response for them. Do not include introductions to the responses. You are not
writing a paper.

Please answer ALL four questions
below in a double-spaced Word document.
The length of your responses for each question should be between 400-600
words. Include the word count at the end
of each of your responses (e.g., Word count = 500) and then begin the reference
list for each response on a new page per APA requirements. Use 12-point font in
Times New Roman only. Be sure to number each response. Write in essay format, with
paragraphs (indent where appropriate).

Cite all sources in the text and in
reference lists for EACH response, and do so in APA format (7th
edition). See the Hacker and Sommers
book. Do not have a single reference list at the end of the document. You are to avoid quoting any definitions or
other explanations of concepts, as that does not demonstrate that you
comprehend the material. However, in
other areas of a response, if you feel that a passage cannot be said any better
than the original author said it, which is rare, you are allowed no more than one short
quote (~ four lines) per page of a response. You cannot quote when
explaining principles of theories, as you must demonstrate your comprehension
of and ability to apply the concepts.
Use the Discover search tool on the library homepage to help you get
appropriate sources and check with me if you still have questions about a
source. You may use your assigned textbook. However, you can also
use scholarly/peer-reviewed research article related to the question. You
should use research articles that address the theories in question as they are
going to be applicable to your responses.

As always, mechanics (grammar, punctuation,
and spelling) and style will be considered in the scoring. If your answer is
too difficult to understand, then do not expect to earn a good score on a
response. If citation formatting is
incorrect, remember that you risk plagiarism, and the severity of that
plagiarism will determine the penalty level you will face.

Save your exam as one file rather than
separate files for each question, but start each response on a separate
page. Please put your name at the top of
the first page and number all pages according to APA format.

ESSAY QUESTIONS
1. Elijah
Anderson noted that the “Code of the Street” determined when and where violence
was appropriate. Discuss how this theory
might explain why one neighborhood has a high crime rate and its adjacent
neighborhood (not city, town or state) has a low crime rate. A good
response will clearly and comprehensively lay out the principles of the
theory and discuss three ways that those principles could be applied to explain
the difference in crime rates between two adjacent neighborhoods. You must
describe the characteristics of each of the neighborhoods. You cannot assume
that in laying out traits of one neighborhood that the other neighborhood’s
traits are implied.

2. In
your view, do any of the
learning theories offer any useful explanation for white-collar crimes, which
are usually committed by those in the middle and upper-classes? Defend your
answer. If the response is yes, a good response will indicate whether
you think all of the learning theories or a specific learning theory or
theories are useful (identify them and the theorist(s)) and discuss three
reasons you hold your view. If the response is no, a good response will
indicate your position, discuss three reasons why you believe none of these
theories are useful, indicate whether there is any new information that you
could receive that could change your view, and offer two explanations for your
stance on this point.

3. Are
feminist criminological theories better at explaining gender differences in
offending than traditional criminological theories? Defend your answer. A good response will clearly articulate
your position of yes or no and then discuss three factors that led to your
view.

4. Do
you believe that peacemaking criminology provides a useful tool regarding policies
for rehabilitating offenders? Explain your position. A good
response will clearly articulate what peacemaking criminology entails, explicitly
and clearly articulate your position regarding whether peacemaking criminology
is useful in rehabilitating offenders, and discuss three reasons for your
position.

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