Module Three
Significant Issues in Criminal Justice (CRJ 208)
Online Version
Introduction – With the exception of the text book readings, this document contains all
the material and assignments for module three. This module contains Lecture Outlines
on the occurrence of crime, polygraphs, and drug criminalization. The readings include
drug legalization and polygraphs.
Checklist – At the end of this module, you should have accomplished the following:
o
o
Followed and completed the tasks on the lecture outline concerning crime
occurrence
o
o
Followed and completed the tasks on the lecture outline concerning
polygraphs
o
o
Read the text book assignment regarding IQ and crime
o
o
Read the text book assignment regarding marijuana legalization
o
o
Completed the module three examination
Lecture Outline
Occurrence of Crime
oOccurrence of Crime – In the strict sense, we do not know the “causes” of crime as
we do not conduct experiments trying to get some humans to become criminals. We
do know that crime is more likely to occur under some conditions and is correlated
with certain factors.
oRoutine Activities Theory of Crime – Environmental in nature, this theory
claims that crime occurs when motivated offenders are present, suitable
targets available, and capable guardians are absent. A review of this theory is
in the link below.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2194/is_6_75/ai_n26925915/
oFundamental Attribution Error – Crime is situational, not dispositional
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/
philip_zimbardo_on_the_psychology_of_evil.html
oCorrelation v. Causation – Correlation is one statistical method that looks for
associations (strong, weak, inverse) between two factors. But a correlation is
not a causation. The following four factors are often correlated with crime,
but that does not mean that these factors necessarily cause crime
Socioeconomic – This is an interesting study. It is longitudinal (the
study follows the subjects over a long period of time) and it suggests
that various factors can reduce the association between crime and
socioeconomic status (SES). This is a long article. Put most of your
effort into the abstract at the beginning and the discussion and tables at
the end.
http://www.chmeds.ac.nz/research/chds/publications/2004/fergusson1.pdf
Intelligence – The reading covers this factor.
