Purpose
The purpose of this discussion is for you to understand how social structure determines how crime is defined, who commits a crime, where crime is committed, and how much crime exists in a society. A sociological perspective of crime (sociological criminology) emphasizes the importance of people as social beings who live by norms in a society.
Task
Answer the following discussion prompts in 250-500 words (total):
Recall the crime statistics presented in this lesson. What trends have there been in crime since the 1990s? What sociological factors contribute to “crime”?
Identify and describe public perceptions about crime in the United States. Compare the perceptions to the statistics.
Data from the Uniform Crime Report show that there are geographic variations in crime rates within the United States. For example, homicide rates in the south are higher than in other regions of the United States. Using a sociological perspective and theories from the lesson, what contributes to these variations?
Apply terminology from the course to explain the relevance of each item to the current lesson. Apply as many terms as you can.
Reply to a minimum of 2 classmates with additional information, terms, theoretical perspectives, follow-up questions, and authentic discussion interactions. Also, respond to others who have responded to you. Lackadaisical responses will not be accepted.
Evaluation
You will be assessed on:
Successfully answering the discussion prompt with originality and accuracy, and while following directions.
Accurately including and applying important terminology from the textbook and course content.
Citing and referencing all materials consulted using MLA, ASA, or APA.
Participation, Timeliness, and Quality of posts and replies.
Grammar, spelling, punctuation, word choice, and sentence structure of posts and replies.
Refer to the Lesson 5 Discussion: Crime in America Rubric (LO6) for more specific criteria to attain maximum discussion score.
Note: This activity may use a different grading rubric than what was used in past activities. Be sure to check the grading rubric before starting.
Rubrics
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