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Criminology Self-Paced

Syllabus

Course Essential Questions:

How do criminologists identify patterns in criminal activity?
To what extent can theories explain criminal behavior?
How has the criminal justice system changed over time to adapt to changing society?
How does the international community cooperate in addressing transnational issues?

Course Learning Objectives:

Identify the purpose and origins of laws.
Analyze crime data and criminology research methods.
Evaluate criminological theories for effectiveness in explaining criminal behavior.
Predict outcomes of criminal justice processes.
Create a policy statement, prevention plan, and corresponding programs for a specific crime.

Topic 1: Getting Started

Topic Essential Questions:

What are the rules, policies and expectations of this course?
How do I want to be treated and how do I want to treat others as I interact with my teachers and classmates?
What is crime?

Topic Learning Objectives:

Understand the rules and policies of the course, and expectations of you as a contributing member of our learning community
Begin to build community by sharing important information with your teacher and classmates about yourself and your school, and creating a social contract together for guidelines on interacting throughout the class
Develop your skills for navigating the course environment and using the various course tools
Identify actions that constitute crime.
Preview course topics.

Unit 1: Criminal Law (Topics 2-4)

Topic 2: Purpose and Origin of Law

Topic Essential Questions:

Why does society need laws?
How do governments balance the need for order with rights of the accused?

Topic Learning Objectives:

Describe the purpose and origins of laws.
Compare rights of the accused outlined in the U.S. Constitution and another country's constitution.
Create a law that needs to be enacted.

Topic 3: Elements and Types of Crime

Topic Essential Questions:

How are crimes categorized?
How does law enforcement determine a charge for an accused offender?
What makes a law outdated?

Topic Learning Objectives:

Distinguish between statutory crimes against individuals, property, and society.
Apply elements of crime to different scenarios.
Evaluate a law's relevance to contemporary society.

Topic 4: Criminal Research Methods and Ethics

Topic Essential Questions:

How do criminologists identify patterns of criminal activity?
Why are ethical practices important in criminology?

Topic Learning Objectives:

Explain the professional components of criminology.
Identify pros and cons of the three main types of criminal reporting.
Interpret data to identify patterns and trends.
Evaluate the Code of Ethics of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences

Unit 2: Causes of Criminal Behavior (Topics 5-8)

Topic 5: Biological Theories

Topic Essential Questions:

To what extent do biological factors relate to criminal activity?
How are DNA and genetic testing used in criminology?

Topic Learning Objectives:

Evaluate the credibility of biological theories over time.
Explain how DNA testing revolutionized forensic science.
Create a genetic testing policy that is constitutional and practical.

Topic 6: Classical Theories

Topic Essential Questions:

How effective are the classical theories in explaining criminal behavior?
How are classical theories reflected in movies or books?

Topic Learning Objectives:

Explain how Rational Choice, Routine Activity, and Marxist Theories explain criminal activity.
Discuss deterrence as a method of preventing criminal activity.
Apply the classical theories to specific scenarios.

Topic 7: Sociological Theories

Topic Essential Questions:

How effective are the sociological theories in explaining criminal behavior?
How are sociological theories reflected in movies or books?

Topic Learning Objectives:

Explain how Strain, Control, and Social Disorganization explain criminal activity.
Discuss how Strain and Control Theories explain criminal activity on college campuses.
Apply the sociological theories to specific scenarios.

Topic 8: Interactionist Theories

Topic Essential Questions:

How effective are the interactionist theories in explaining criminal behavior?
How are the components of law and causes of criminal behavior reflected in movies or books?

Topic Learning Objectives:

Explain how Labeling and Differential Association explain criminal activity.
Discuss how Labeling and Differential Association Theories apply to high school students.
Interpret the classic "Saints and the Roughnecks" using the Labeling Theory.
Determine which components of law and criminological theories are incorporated into or implied in a movie or book.
Assess whether to recommend a movie or book for future Criminology courses.

Unit 3: Criminal Justice Processes (Topics 9-12)

Topic 9: Psychological Profiling

Topic Essential Question:

How do criminologists use psychological profiling tools?

Topic Learning Objectives:

Distinguish between psychopaths and sociopaths and how those classifications inform criminologists’ work.
Apply factors of dangerousness and classifications of organized or disorganized crime scenes to scenarios.
Create a podcast analyzing a serial killer using psychological profiling, organized or disorganized crime scene(s), and sociological or interactionist theories.

Topic 10: Competencies and Defenses

Topic Essential Questions:

Why is it important to determine competency for a criminal court case?
What strategies do lawyers use to defend the accused?

Topic Learning Objectives:

Relate competency to stand trial to constitutional protections for the accused.
Categorize different types of defenses based on their effectiveness.
Assess the efficacy of the insanity defense.

Topic 11: Sentencing and Prisons

Topic Essential Questions:

To what extent do current sentencing practices in the U.S. address established goals of sentencing?
How do U.S. prisons compare internationally?

Topic Learning Objectives:

Identify the purposes of sentencing.
Debate the effectiveness, constitutionality, and morality of the death penalty.
Analyze sentencing practices over time for drug offenses.
Propose a policy change for sentencing.
Compare and contrast prison systems in the U.S. with two other prison systems internationally.

Topic 12: Community Supervision

Topic Essential Questions:

How effective are different components of parole?
How can society reduce recidivism?

Topic Learning Objectives:

Distinguish between probation and parole.
Evaluate the effectiveness of halfway houses, electronic monitoring, and close supervision of former inmates.
Discuss alternatives to traditional parole programs in order to reduce recidivism.

Unit 4: Criminology Around the World (Topics 13-15)

Topic 13: Transnational Issues

Topic Essential Question:

How do transnational issues impact the criminal justice system?

Topic Learning Objectives:

Compare the impacts of cybercrime, terrorism, and drug trafficking among selected nations.
Propose solutions to human trafficking.

Topic 14: International Cooperation

Topic Essential Questions:

How does the international community cooperate in addressing transnational crime?
What prevents some nations from cooperating in international criminal justice activities?

Topic Learning Objectives:

Identify how the United Nations and INTERPOL cooperate to address international crimes.
Evaluate the effectiveness of the OAS, EU, African Union, and Kyoto Declaration in addressing transnational crime.
Discuss the implications of the seven nations’ nonparticipation in the International Criminal Court.

Topic 15: Course Conclusion and Reflection

Topic Essential Questions:

How is criminology a multi-faceted discipline of study?
What careers are available in the field of criminology?
To what extent did this Criminology class meet my expectations?

Topic Learning Objectives:

Create a policy statement, prevention plan aligned with a criminological theory, and corresponding programs for a specific crime.
Identify the pros and cons of a specific career in criminology.
Evaluate the course's content, projects, workload, and communication with the teacher.