ccj4604

CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORY
CCJ 4604 Section 0848
Spring 2008
MWF Period 2
Turlington 2353

Instructor: Ronald L. Akers

Office and Office Hours: WAL 201G 9:30-10:30 MWF and by appt.
E-mail: rla@crim.ufl.edu
Web Sites:      Akers = http://web.crim.ufl.edu/faculty/ra/index.html
                       Department= http://web.crim.ufl.edu

Teaching Assistant: Jessica Shue. Office and Office hours: TBA

PURPOSE: The aims of the course are to introduce the basic assumptions and explanations in the leading theories of crime, delinquency, and deviance and of law and criminal justice, evaluate their logical consistency, scope, empirical adequacy, and implications for, and applications to, policy and programs.

EXAMINATIONS: There will be three exams. The first exam is tentatively scheduled for Feb.
15 and the second for March 28. The final examination will be given during the time scheduled
for Period 2 MWF, Exam Group 30C, April 30 at 12:30pm. The examinations will not be cumulative; only material covered since the first exam will be on the second exam, and only materials covered since the second exam will be included on the final.
The examinations will include true-false and multiple choice questions, and essay questions. The nature of the exam and the materials to be covered will be announced and reviewed in a class period prior to the date of the exam. Each student is responsible for bringing to the exam at least one #2 lead pencil for marking exam answer sheets and at least one "blue book" essay booklet (available at UF Bookstore and other bookstores)

GRADES: The course grade will be assigned on the sum total of scores made on the total of the three exams. The grade of A will be assigned for the sum of these scores equal to or greater than 90% of the total possible points adding all the exams together. The grade of B+ will be assigned to 85%, B for 80%, C+ for 75%, C for 70%, D+ for 65%, D for 60%, and E for less than 60%.

ACADEMIC HONESTY: Academic honestly is assumed. All students are encouraged to make it a matter of pride and conscience not to cheat in any way neither seeking assistance nor assisting another student to cheat. The Honor Code of the Student Body Statutes, endorsed by the University Senate reads: We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to hold ourselves and our peers to the highest standards of honesty and integrity. Your continued enrollment in this class is an expressed endorsement of this policy. In addition, the following statement will be inserted for your signature on examinations: "On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this examination." There are procedures for sanctioning academic dishonesty including referral to the student honor court.

INTERACTION WITH INSTRUCTOR IN AND OUTSIDE OF CLASS: I encourage class participation and discussion. Questions in class are welcomed and will be responded to reasonably. During class time I will call upon students to respond to
questions and ask for questions from students. Also, I am available and accessible for advising on the class or any academic issue related to your major, progress, and career goals. If you have individual questions or need assistance with regard to any class or reading materials, or need advice, you may see me during office hours or by appointment if you are unable to come to
the office during those times.

CLASS WILL NOT MEET: Jan. 21, 2008 (Martin Luther King day) or during March 10-14 (Spring Break). Course Outline and Reading Assignments
CCJ 4604 Criminological Theory
Spring 2007 Sec. 0848

REQUIRED TEXTS

Akers, Ronald L. and Christine S. Sellers, CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORIES: INTRODUCTION, EVALUATION, AND APPLICATION. Los Angeles: Roxbury Publishing, FOURTH EDITION, 2004.
    Note: Free Student Study Guide by Eric See Available Online at http://www.roxbury.net

Cullen, Francis T. and Robert Agnew. Criminological Theory: Past to Present. THIRD EDITION. Los Angeles, CA: Roxbury Publishing, 2006

TOPIC OUTLINE AND READING ASSIGNMENTS

I. Introduction: Classification and Evaluation of Criminological Theories
A. Theoretical Questions and Types of Theory
B. Criteria for Evaluating Theory

Readings:
    Akers and Sellers, Ch 1
    Cullen and Agnew, Introduction

II. Classical Criminology, Deterrence, and Rational Choice Theory
A. Classical and Neoclassical Criminology
B. Deterrence and Rational Choice Theory Today
C. Routine Activities Theory
D. Policy Implications

Readings:
     Akers and Sellers Ch. 2
     Cullen and Agnew: Part I introduction, pp.18-22; 1, Beccaria   37, Stafford and Warr; 38, Cornish and Clarke; 39, Cohen and Felson; 40, Clarke

III. Biological Theories
A. Lombrosianism and Early Biological Theory
B. Modern Biological and Sociobiological Theory
D. Policy and Program Implications of Biological Theories

Readings:
     Akers and Sellers: Ch. 3
    Cullen and Agnew: Part II introduction, pp. 29-36; 2, Lombroso; 4. Ellis and Walsh; 5, Rowe

IV. Psychological Theories
      A. Psychoanalytic Theory
      B. Personality Theory
      C. Policy and Program Implications of Psychological Theories

Readings:
    Akers and Sellers: Ch. 4
    Cullen and Agnew: 3. Glueck and Glueck; 6, Caspi et al.

Feb. 15--First Exam; Covers Topics I through IV

V. Social Learning Theory
A. Sutherland's Theory and Modifications
B. Social Learning Theory
C. Policy and Programs Implications of Social Learning Theory

Readings:
     Akers and Sellers: Ch. 4
     Cullen and Agnew: Part IV introduction, pp.115-121; 10, Sutherland and Cressey; 14, Anderson

VI. Social Bonding and Control Theory
A. Control Theories
B. Social Bonding Theory
C. Self-Control Theory
D. Policy and Program Implications of Control Theory

Readings:
     Akers and Sellers: Ch. 6
     Cullen and Agnew: Part VI introduction, pp.210-218; 20, Hirschi; 21, Gottfredson and Hirschi; 22, Sampson and Laub


VII. Labeling Theory
A. Labeling Theory
B. Revisions and Modifications
C. Policy and Program Implications of Labeling Theory

Readings:
     Akers and Sellers: Ch. 7
     Cullen and Agnew: Part VII introduction, pp. 264-272; 24, Lemert; 25, Braithwaite


March 28 : Second Exam; Covers topics V-VII

VIII. Social Disorganization, Anomie, and Strain
A. Social Disorganization, the Chicago School, the Ecology of Crime and Delinquency
B. Anomie and Strain Theories
C. Policy and Program Implications of Social Disorganization and Strain Theories

Readings:
      Akers and Sellers: Ch. 8
       Cullen and Agnew: Part III introduction, p. 86-94; Part V introduction, pp.162-170; 7, Shaw and Mckay; 9, Sampson et al.; 15, Merton; 17, Cloward and Ohlin; 18, Rosenfeld and Messner; 19, Agnew

IX. Conflict Theory
A. Conflict and Consensus in Law and Criminal Justice
B. Group Conflict in Criminal Behavior
C. Policy and Program Implications of Conflict Theory

Readings:
     Akers and Sellers: Ch. 9

X. Marxist and Critical Theory
A. Marxist Theory of Law and Criminal Justice
B. Marxist Theory of Crime
C. Critical, Constitutive, Postmodern Criminology
D. Policy and Program Implications of Marxist and Critical Theory

Readings:
     Akers and Selles: Ch. 9
     Cullen and Agnew: Part VIII introduction, pp. 294-303; 28 , Quinney; 30, Colvin; 31, Quinney

XI. Feminist Theory
A. Feminist Theory of Law and Criminal Justice
B. Feminist Theory of Crime and Delinquency
C. Policy and Program Implications of Feminist Theory

Readings:
     Akers and Sellers: Ch. 11
     Cullen and Agnew: Part IX introductio, pp. 347-358; 32, Adler; 33, Chesney-Lind; 34 Heimer and DeCoster; 36, Steffensmeier and Allan

XII. Comparisons and Integration of Theories of Crime and Deviance
A. Issues in Theoretical Integration
B. Examples of Theoretical Integration

Readings:
     Akers and Sellers: Ch. 12
     Cullen and Agnew: Part XIV introduction, pp. 529-536; 45, Laub and Sampson; 46, Elliott et al.; 48, Tittle; 49

April 23-- Last day of classes; Review of Course and Review for Final Exam

April 30 – Final Exam: Exam Group 30A, 12:30am Tur 2353; will cover topics VIII-XII