As we have discussed, there are many theories as to why some people commit crimes. The concept of eugenics and the 1927 U.S. Supreme Court case of Buck v. Bell present a particularly unique situation.
Research the 1927 U.S. Supreme Court case of Buck v. Bell. The case involved state-enforced eugenic sterilization for people who were considered feebleminded or otherwise genetically inferior.
Write a two-page research paper (not counting the title and reference pages) on your findings. Summarize the case, define the eugenic movement, and discuss its role in this case.
Address the following points within your research paper:
Define eugenics. What theory or theories of criminology does eugenics relate to?
What happened to eugenics, particularly to enforced sterilization, in the years following the Supreme Court's findings in the Buck v. Bell case?
What is the current legal status of enforced sterilization in the United States?