Course 1 - Response to Local terrorism
Initial discussion post - Based on this week's course materials, it is important for us to explore homeland security grants in more detail. Please read a Congressional Research Service report on the Homeland Security Grants Program (attached).
Then answer the following questions in accordance with the discussion guidelines provided to you (also posted in the news area).
1. Provide a summary of the grant program (there are 8 discussed in this document) that you think is most important to "Local Response to Terrorism" and explain why you feel that it is most important.
2. Based on the remainder of the document, do you feel that the appropriate level of funding is being provided to the appropriate recipients? Why/why not?
Remember to properly cite your reference materials using properly styled APA citations and a reference list. Refer to Chapters 6 and 7 of the APA Manual for guidance on proper style.
Course 2 - Senior Seminar in Criminology
Locate a scholarly article regarding police liability. Summarize the article and formulate it into an annotated bibliography, paying careful attention to proper APA formatting. In your responses to your peers, discuss how their chosen article relates to something you covered in one of your prior criminal justice courses.
Course 3 - Theories of Criminology
Many of us think of street gangs as a relatively new phenomenon that is another symptom of our decaying society. That could not be further from the truth! Organized gangs of (mostly) young males have been a part of the urban environment for a very long time. The popular movie "The Gangs of New York" revealed that this problem has been around since the beginning of the United States. More amazing than that, these types of gangs have been described in historical records from the thriving metropolis of Rome over 2000 years ago! (BTW: These gangs flourished when common punishments were swift and certain - beheading and crucifixion! And you thought that severe sentences will solve the problem!)
After reading Chapters 3 & 4 develop your own explanation of why criminal street gangs are such a perennial problem. I do not want your personal opinion unless it is based on, integrated with or justified by concepts from Chapters 3 & 4. That does not mean that you cannot describe these Criminological concepts in common language (I hope you do) but this discussion will be graded on your use of these concepts.
A very basic relationship that can help you organize your thoughts on this matter is:Whenever social forces (like rapid immigration, overcrowding, poverty, etc.) create social disorganization (i.e. the breakdown the basic institutions of conventional social organization such as family, education, etc.) alternative forms of social organization emerge. Although these adaptive organizations can create serious problems (high levels of violence) they do serve other important functions in the community where they exist. You all have done excellent work in the past two discussion questions. This one should produce some interesting exchanges.
Each discussion will be 200 words.
Attachment:- Assignment Files.rar