Crime and Criminology
The Effectiveness of Sex Offender Registries Discussion 7
Within the past decade, an increasing number of states have implemented sex offender registration laws. These laws require sex offenders to register where they live so the state can track and monitor their activities. In conjunction with these laws, most states have databases on the Internet allowing residents to search for sex offenders who live in their same neighborhood or city. AIDitionally, some states have mobile applications available allowing users to search for sex offenders based on the user’s GPS location.
While a significant increase in the surveillance of sex offenders is clear, the effectiveness of these systems at preventing sexually violent offenses is debated. Some people have argued that, even if they are effective, they are unethical because they infringe upon the basic human rights and liberties of the convicted sex offender. This debate is unlikely to be resolved soon and is an important one to consider when deciding whether sex offender registries are instruments that should be used when dealing with sexually violent offenders.
For this Discussion, consider whether state sex offender registries are effective in preventing sexually violent behaviors and whether you consider them to be ethical.
With these thoughts in mind:
Post by Day 4 your explanation of the degree to which state sex offender registries are effective in the prevention of sexually violent behaviors. Then state your position on whether state sex offender registries are ethical and explain why.
Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources.
Readings
€¢ Kardasz, F. (2012). Sex offenders on the Internet: Cyber-struggles for the protection of children. In M. DeLisi& P. J. Conis (Eds.), Violent offenders: Theory, research, policy, and practice (2nd ed., pp. 301€“318). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
€¢ Ryan, R. M. (2012). Civil commitment laws for sexual predators. In M. DeLisi& P. J. Conis (Eds.),Violent offenders: Theory, research, policy, and practice (2nd ed., pp. 401€“417). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
€¢ Reese, S. L. (2012). Sex offender registries and criminal predators. In M. DeLisi& P. J. Conis (Eds.),Violent offenders: Theory, research, policy, and practice (2nd ed., pp. 419€“432). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
€¢ Sample, L. L., &Kadleck, C. (2008). Sex offender laws: Legislators’ accounts of the need for policy.Criminal Justice Policy Review, 19(1), 40€“62.
Retrieved from the Walden Library.
€¢ Tewksbury, R. (2005). Collateral consequences of sex offender registration. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 21(1), 67€“81.
Retrieved from the Walden Library.
€¢ Vásquez, B. E., MaIDan, S., & Walker, J. T. (2008). The influence of sex offender registration and notification laws in the United States: A time-series analysis. Crime & Delinquency, 54(2), 175€“192.
Retrieved from the Walden Library.
Prevention and Management of Serial Offenders Discussion 8
Given that serial offenders are extremely dangerous and tend to inflict pain on many different victims throughout their lives, a considerable amount of effort has been placed on determining the best way to deal with them. In the criminal justice system two main approaches are used when handling serial offenders. One approach is prevention. According to this approach, at-risk children and youth should receive services that promote the development of pro-social behavior.
The second approach is focused on the belief that serial offenders cannot necessarily be prevented from offending but only managed once they are detected. According to this approach, the criminal justice system should incarcerate serial offenders for long periods of time as the only way to protect society from their crimes. While incarcerated, serial offenders could also receive rehabilitation programs, designed to help them stay crime free once released from prison.
Determining which of these approaches might be the most effective remains a matter of serious debate. Multiple policies have been developed employing one or both of these approaches in an attempt to prevent serial offenses and/or manage serial offenders.
For this Discussion, select a policy for the prevention of serial offenses, management of serial offenders, or both. Then consider how this policy might or might not be effective and why.
With these thoughts in mind:
Post by Day 4 a description of the policy you selected. In your description state whether the policy is for the prevention of serial offenses, management of serial offenders, or both. Then explain how this policy might or might not be effective and why.
Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources.
Readings
€¢ Drury, A. J. (2012). Violent offenders: A perspective on dynamic federal supervision practices. In M. DeLisi& P. J. Conis (Eds.), Violent offenders: Theory, research, policy, and practice (2nd ed., pp. 351€“368). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
€¢ Cunningham, M. D. (2012). Institutional misconduct among capital murders. In M. DeLisi& P. J. Conis (Eds.), Violent offenders: Theory, research, policy, and practice (2nd ed., pp. 383€“399). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
€¢ Friendship, C., Mann, R. E., & Beech, A. R. (2003). Evaluation of a national prison-based treatment program for sexual offenders in England and Wales. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 18(7), 744€“759.
Retrieved from the Walden Library.
€¢ Hanson, R. K., & Morton-Bourgon, K. E. (2005). The characteristics of persistent sexual offenders: A meta-analysis of recidivism studies. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73(6), 1154€“1163.
Retrieved from the Walden Library.
€¢ Welsh, B. C., & Farrington, D. P. (2007). Scientific support for early prevention of delinquency and later offending. Victims & Offenders, 2(2), 125€“140.
Retrieved from the Walden Library.
€¢ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). (2008b). Serial murder: Multi-disciplinary perspectives for investigators. Retrieved from http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/serial-murder
Male-Female Differences in Violence Discussion 9
Why do males commit more violent offenses than females? While this question has been the source of a significant amount of research, there has been little agreement from scholars on the answer. Research varies on factors that may explain why males commit more violent offenses than females, including social, environmental, psychological, and biological factors. Taken together, all of this research tends to suggest that male-female differences in violence are complex and likely include a wide range of different factors.
For this Discussion, consider why there are more violent male offenders than violent female offenders. In aIDition, consider any social, environmental, psychological, and/or biological factors that may contribute to the lower rate of violent female offenders.
With these thoughts in mind:
Post by Day 4 an explanation for why there are more violent male offenders than violent female offenders. Include any social, environmental, psychological, and/or biological factors that may contribute to the lower rate of violent female offenders.
Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources.
Readings
€¢ Schwartz, J. (2012). Comparing women and men who kill. In M. DeLisi& P. J. Conis (Eds.), Violent offenders: Theory, research, policy, and practice (2nd ed., pp. 185€“205). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
€¢ Alarid, L. F., Burton, V. S., & Cullen, F. T. (2000). Gender and crime among felony offenders: Assessing the generality of social control and differential association theories. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 37(2), 171€“199.
Retrieved from the Walden Library.
€¢ Hartman, J. L., Turner, M. G., Daigle, L. E., Exum, M. L., & Cullen, F. T. (2009). Exploring the gender differences in protective factors: Implications for understanding resiliency. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 53(3), 249€“277.
Retrieved from the Walden Library.
€¢ Steffensmeier, D., & Allan, E. (1996). Gender and crime: Toward a gendered theory of female offending.Annual Review of Sociology, 22(1), 459€“487.
Retrieved from the Walden Library.
Criminal Profiling: Art, Science, or Both? Discussion 10
Criminal profiling is often portrayed as a foolproof tool used by criminal investigators to determine the specific physical characteristics and personality traits possessed by the offender. While criminal profilers can provide some insight into the traits and attributes of the offender, in reality the profiles created are far from perfect. The creation of a criminal profile is based, in large part, on what empirical research has revealed about criminals. The profiler will often rely on intuition when lacking solid empirical research€”for example, when the profiler tries to determine the offender’s height or eye color. In the end, while criminal profiling can provide some insight into what the offender might €œlook like,€ it is typically only viewed as a guide that is useful in combination with other criminal investigative tools.
Reference: Walsh, A. (2005). African Americans and serial killing in the media: The myth and the reality. Homicide Studies, 9(4), 271€“291.
For this Discussion, consider criminal profiling as either an art, a science, or both.
With these thoughts in mind:
Post by Day 4 your position as to whether criminal profiling is an art, a science, or a combination of both. Justify your position.
Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources.
Readings
€¢ Cook, P. E., &Hinman, D. L. (1999). Criminal profiling: Science and art. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 15, 230€“241.
Retrieved from the Walden Library.
€¢ Douglas, J. E., Ressler, R. K., Burgess, A. W., & Hartman, C. R. (1986). Criminal profiling from crime scene analysis. Behavioral Sciences & the Law, 4(4), 401€“421.
Retrieved from the Walden Library.
€¢ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). (2008a). VI. Investigative issues and best practices. Serial murder: Multi-disciplinary perspectives for investigators. Retrieved from http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/serial-murder/serial-murder-1#six
€¢ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (n.d.). Behavioral Science Unit.
Retrieved from http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/training/bsu
Effective Crime-Control Policies Discussion 11
In many walks of life, a one-size-fits-all approach is not always the best fit. The same can be said for criminal justice polices. Many policies are aimed at reducing criminal behavior with the notion that all policies equally serve all types of offenders. In reality, assuming a single policy will have the same effect on all types of offenders is not always accurate. For example, white-collar criminals tend to be highly intelligent and relatively wealthy, and create elaborate plans to avoid detection. In contrast, many street criminals tend to be relatively poor and impulsive, and often do not commit premeditated crimes (Gottfredson&Hirschi, 1990). These types of offenders may be affected differently by the same crime-control policy. Understanding characteristics of different types of offenders may help in the creation of effective policies.
For this Discussion, consider policies that were created to reduce crime. Then think about for which type of offender these policies might be most effective. Next, consider how these policies might effect positive social change.
Reference: Gottfredson, M. R., &Hirschi, T. (1990). A general theory of crime. Palo Alto, CA: Stanford University Press.
With these thoughts in mind:
Post by Day 4 a brief description of a policy that might be most effective in reducing crime and explain why you think it might be effective. Then explain for which type of offender this policy might be most effective and why. Finally, explain how this policy might affect positive social change.
Readings
€¢ Braga, A. A. (2012). Focused deterrence strategies and the reduction of gang and group-involved violence. In M. DeLisi& P. J. Conis (Eds.), Violent offenders: Theory, research, policy, and practice (2nd ed., pp. 259€“279). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
€¢ Caudill, J. W., &Trulson, C. R. (2012). Arrested today, out tomorrow: Patrol officers’ perceptions of a broken justice system. In M. DeLisi& P. J. Conis (Eds.), Violent offenders: Theory, research, policy, and practice (2nd ed., pp. 281€“300). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
€¢ Listwan, S. J. (2012). Running to stand still? Reentry and violent offenders. In M. DeLisi& P. J. Conis (Eds.), Violent offenders: Theory, research, policy, and practice (2nd ed., pp. 433€“447). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
€¢ Radelet, M. L., & Borg, M. J. (2000). The changing nature of death penalty debates. Annual Review of Sociology, 26(1), 43€“61.
Retrieved from the Walden Library.
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Discussion 1: The Effects of Cybercrimes on Society Dis. 12A
The use of technology to commit a crime makes that offense a cybercrime, which can range from violation of privacy to organizing terrorist plots. The explosive growth of cybercrime has ruined individual lives, collapsed businesses, and threatened the security of nations. Cybercrime can make people feel unsafe in their own homes now that offenders can enter without being physically present.
For this Discussion, select a type of cybercrime that you think might be damaging to society (i.e., cyber-stalking, cyber-bullying, cyber-porn, sexting, hacking, identity theft, etc.).
With these thoughts in mind:
Post by Day 3 a brief description of the type of cybercrime you selected. Then explain how and why that type of cybercrime might be damaging to society.
Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources.
Discussion 2: Combating Cybercrimes Discussion 12B
Preventing cybercrimes and apprehending cybercriminals is one of the most difficult tasks facing the criminal justice system. Part of the difficulty is due to the fact that cybercrimes are often completed without anyone recognizing the crime until days, weeks, or sometimes years later. AIDitionally, these types of crimes often take place from remote locations. The victim may be in one location, while the offender could be in another location€” even another country. Attempting to prevent cybercrimes that occur across vast geographical areas and multiple jurisdictions further increases the difficulty for law enforcement. One way that law enforcement has started to combat cybercrimes is by using technology. While these efforts have helped in fighting cybercrimes, they still remain one of the most difficult crimes to combat.
For this Discussion, consider how law enforcement might use technology to prevent or reduce the cybercrime you selected from Discussion 1 of this week. Then consider the ethical use of technology by law enforcement to combat cybercrime.
With these thoughts in mind:
Post by Day 4 a brief description of the cybercrime you selected for Discussion 1 this week. Then explain how law enforcement might use technology to prevent or reduce the cybercrime you selected. Finally, explain how law enforcement might ethically use technology to combat cybercrime. Include two specific guidelines that should inform that use.
Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources.
Readings
€¢ Miller, B. N., & Morris, R. G. (2012). Cyber-related violence. In M. DeLisi& P. J. Conis (Eds.), Violent offenders: Theory, research, policy, and practice (2nd ed., pp. 75€“94). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
€¢ Alexy, E. M., Burgess, A. W., & Baker, T. (2005). Internet offenders: Traders, travelers, and combination trader-travelers. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 20(7), 804€“812.
Retrieved from the Walden Library.
€¢ Rogers, M. (2003). The role of criminal profiling in the computer forensics process. Computers & Security, 22(4), 292€“298.
Retrieved from the Walden Library.
€¢ Rogers, M. K., &Seigfried, K. (2004). The future of computer forensics: A needs analysis survey.Computers& Security, 23(1), 12€“16.
Retrieved from the Walden Library.
