JUS 506

JUS 506 Topic 3 Assignment 1, Mental Illness and the Justice System

JUS 506 Topic 4 Assignment 1, Cultural Deviance and Crime

JUS 506 Topic 4 DQ 1 Travis Hirschi has been one of the most influential criminal theorists over the last 25 years. He asserts that there are four social bonds that can deter or encourage individuals to commit crime. What are those bonds, and which of the four do you believe is most lacking among at-risk juveniles today? Why?

JUS 506 Topic 4 DQ 2 Read “Are Human Beings Inherently Bad?” on page 182 and decide which theorist—Merton or Hirschi—has assumptions about the nature of human sin that best aligns with biblical principles. Explain that alignment.

JUS 506 Topic 3 DQ 1 Which theories do you believe better explain all types of crime—biological theories, or strain theories? Looking across the board, are criminals more likely to share biological characteristics (such as mental illness and increased levels of testosterone), or are they more likely to share social traits (being raised in broken homes, living in poverty, lacking education, etc.)? Be sure to cite the sources of your information or statistics.

JUS-506 Topic 3 DQ2 Explain Shaw and McKay’s theory of social disorganization. Describe some of the physical, behavioral and economic effects of life in deteriorating neighborhoods. Assess how effective this theory is in explaining crime.

JUS 506 Topic 2 Benchmark Assignment 1, Measuring Criminal Behaviour

JUS 506 Topic 2 DQ 1: Age, gender, social class, and race are all linked to criminal behavior. Choose one and explain the connection it has to crime as identified by research. Explain the implications this link has in preventing future crimes.

JUS 506 Topic 1 DQ 2: Describe the history of the U.S. justice system, and the principles it was founded upon. What changes do you see in today’s approach to crime and justice?

JUS 506 Topic 2 DQ 2 What are some methods of collecting crime data? What are the strengths and weaknesses of these methods?