Assignment:
News articles outlining the trial and sentencing for James Holmes, the Aurora, Colorado movie theater shooter.
- Aurora theater shooting trial: The prosecution's 6 best arguments
- Defense in Colorado theater shooting trial rests its case
- James Holmes trial: Judge formally sentences Aurora gunman to life in prison
After reviewing these materials, write an initial post that includes the following elements:
- Who does the prosecutor represent in a criminal trial and what is the prosecutor's general role(s) in a criminal trial?
- What is the prosecution's argument(s) in this specific case?
- Which of the theories you learned about in Module 2 align with the prosecution's argument(s)? Briefly describe the theory you selected using terminology from your text, then discuss why you selected this theory for the prosecution's argument(s).
- Who does the defense attorney represent in a criminal trial and what is the defense attorney's general role(s) in a criminal trial?
- What is the defense's argument(s) in the case?
- Which of the theories you learned about in Module 2 align with the defense's argument(s)? Briefly describe the theory you selected using terminology from your text, then discuss why you selected this theory for the defense's argument(s).
- Discuss your opinion on whether you support the sentence Holmes was given (life + 3,318 years).
Note: Theories to choose from for the discussion in your initial post include: rational choice theory; biological trait theories including genetics or neurocriminology; psychological trait theories including psychoanalytic theory or social psychology; a sociological theory including social disorganization theory, strain theory, or cultural deviance theory; a social process theory including learning theory, control theory, or labeling theory; or a life course theory including self-control theory.