Assignment task: These discussion questions are for CRJ 277: Introduction to Criminology.
Problem 1: If you are considering a career in or related to law enforcement, you must have a working definition of a crime. Imagine it is your first day on the job as a law enforcement professional. Your new police chief says, "Welcome aboard! Today is your first day with the department, and you MAY need to arrest someone for committing a crime. Tell me WHY we arrest people, and tell me what is a crime?"
Problem 2: Reflect on what you learned in this chapter. Also think about the proliferation of social media, data analytics and technologies such as smartphones.
Do you believe law enforcement agencies have arrived at a crime data "plateau"? Or do you think crime data collection, analysis, and reporting capabilities will become even more sophisticated in the near future. If yes, how?
Problem 3: Reflect on what you have learned in this chapter regarding Routine Activities Theory and Rational Choice Theory.
Browse the week's news stories on the web. Find an article about a criminal activity that occurred in your community.
Pick ONE theoretical perspective, either Routine Activities Theory or Rational Choice Theory.
Prepare five-minute presentation on how that theory explains the crime that was committed.
For this activity, you should present yourself as a strong advocate of the theory you selected, even if you are not an advocate of that theory.
Problem 4: Reflect on what you have learned in this chapter about positivist theories of criminology. In modern day society, do you think some people still believe that an individual's physical appearance and behavior are connected?