Criminology SOCY 3504
Professor Alex Vitale
Spring 2021
Office: 3101 James
Mon, Wed. 2:15-3:30
Office Hours: Mon-Thur.: 11:00-12:00 & by Appt.
avitale@brooklyn.cuny.edu
Course web page: http://www.alex-vitale.info
Objectives
· To become familiar with criminological theories and apply them to real world situations.
· To learn the differences between the economic, medical, and social models of justice.
· To learn the theoretical basis for the “Broken Windows” theory.
· To learn the myths underlying mass incarceration and possible alternatives.
· To communicate ideas effectively in class and in writing.
· To learn to read newspaper articles and professional criminological writing effectively.
· To learn the methods of writing a sociological research paper.
Books
· Lanier, Mark and Stuart Henry. 2009. Essential Criminology. 4th Edition. Boulder, CO.: Westview Press.
· Kappeler, Victor and Gary Potter. 2005. The Mythology of Crime and Criminal Justice. 4th Edition. Waveland Press.
All books can be purchased from on-line bookstores. Used copies are fine, but make sure you get the right edition.
Requirements
Ground Rules
· If you miss class, contact the instructor by email before the next class to receive any missed assignments, handouts, etc.
· Please do not disturb class with cell phones, side conversations, or excessive eating in class
· Plagiarism (writing someone else’s words as your own), sharing your exam or paper with another student, or copying another student’s paper or exam will result
in an F in the course.
· If you feel you are not doing as well as you would like in the course you should come and see me in my office or after class. Grades can not be adjusted after an assignment is completed or once the semester is over.
Course Schedule
2/1 Lanier and Henry Ch. 1-2, Introduction: Defining Criminology and Crime
2/3 Lanier and Henry Ch. 3, Classical, Neoclassical and Rational Choice Theories
2/8 Lanier and Henry Ch. 4, Biological Theories
2/10 Lanier and Henry Ch. 5, Psychological Theories
2/17 Lanier and Henry Ch. 6, Learning and Social Process Theories
2/22 Lanier and Henry Ch. 7, Socialization Theories
2/24 Lanier and Henry Ch. 8, Social Ecology and Cultural Theories
3/1 Lanier and Henry Ch. 9, Anomie and Strain Theory
3/3 Lanier and Henry Ch. 10, Conflict and Radical Theories
3/8 Lanier and Henry Ch. 11, Feminist Theories
3/10 Lanier and Henry Ch. 12, Critical Theories
3/15 Film Screening, Midterm Paper Due
3/17 Vitale Ch. 1, The Limits of Police Reform
3/22 Vitale Ch. 2, The Police Are Not Here to Help You
3/24 Guest Speaker
4/5 Vitale Ch. 3, The School to Prison Pipeline
4/7 Guest Speaker
4/12 Vitale Ch. 4
4/14 Guest Speaker
4/19 Vitale Ch. 6. The Failures of Policing Sex Work
4/21 Guest Speaker, Final Paper Topic Due
4/26 Vitale Ch. 7, The War on Drugs
4/28 Guest Speaker
5/3 Vitale Ch. 8, Gang Suppression Policing
5/5 Guest Speaker, Annotated Bibliography Due
5/10 Vitale Ch. 9, Boarder Policing
5/12 Guest Speaker
5/17 Vitale Conclusion
5/24 Final Paper Due by 5PM
Professor Alex Vitale
Spring 2021
Office: 3101 James
Mon, Wed. 2:15-3:30
Office Hours: Mon-Thur.: 11:00-12:00 & by Appt.
avitale@brooklyn.cuny.edu
Course web page: http://www.alex-vitale.info
Objectives
· To become familiar with criminological theories and apply them to real world situations.
· To learn the differences between the economic, medical, and social models of justice.
· To learn the theoretical basis for the “Broken Windows” theory.
· To learn the myths underlying mass incarceration and possible alternatives.
· To communicate ideas effectively in class and in writing.
· To learn to read newspaper articles and professional criminological writing effectively.
· To learn the methods of writing a sociological research paper.
Books
· Lanier, Mark and Stuart Henry. 2009. Essential Criminology. 4th Edition. Boulder, CO.: Westview Press.
· Kappeler, Victor and Gary Potter. 2005. The Mythology of Crime and Criminal Justice. 4th Edition. Waveland Press.
- Vitale, Alex S. 2017. The End of Policing. New York: Verso.
All books can be purchased from on-line bookstores. Used copies are fine, but make sure you get the right edition.
Requirements
- Class Participation 15%: Students are expected to be in class on time and well prepared. This means reading the assignment, considering the study questions, and participating in classroom discussions. You should be prepared to be called upon to answer questions at any time.
- Midterm Paper 25%: There will be a midterm paper of 4-5 pages that uses materials from the Lanier and Henry book to analyze a recent news event.
- Web Postings 20%: There is a web page for this class at http://bccrim.wordpress.com/. You are required to post a recent news story related to the topic being covered in class at least 4 times in the first half of class and 4 times in the second half of class. Details on how to post will be provided in class.
- Final Paper 40%: The final paper will be 9-10 page research paper. Students must investigate some aspect of criminology that they find interesting and integrate concepts developed during the class into the paper.
Ground Rules
· If you miss class, contact the instructor by email before the next class to receive any missed assignments, handouts, etc.
· Please do not disturb class with cell phones, side conversations, or excessive eating in class
· Plagiarism (writing someone else’s words as your own), sharing your exam or paper with another student, or copying another student’s paper or exam will result
in an F in the course.
· If you feel you are not doing as well as you would like in the course you should come and see me in my office or after class. Grades can not be adjusted after an assignment is completed or once the semester is over.
Course Schedule
2/1 Lanier and Henry Ch. 1-2, Introduction: Defining Criminology and Crime
2/3 Lanier and Henry Ch. 3, Classical, Neoclassical and Rational Choice Theories
2/8 Lanier and Henry Ch. 4, Biological Theories
2/10 Lanier and Henry Ch. 5, Psychological Theories
2/17 Lanier and Henry Ch. 6, Learning and Social Process Theories
2/22 Lanier and Henry Ch. 7, Socialization Theories
2/24 Lanier and Henry Ch. 8, Social Ecology and Cultural Theories
3/1 Lanier and Henry Ch. 9, Anomie and Strain Theory
3/3 Lanier and Henry Ch. 10, Conflict and Radical Theories
3/8 Lanier and Henry Ch. 11, Feminist Theories
3/10 Lanier and Henry Ch. 12, Critical Theories
3/15 Film Screening, Midterm Paper Due
3/17 Vitale Ch. 1, The Limits of Police Reform
3/22 Vitale Ch. 2, The Police Are Not Here to Help You
3/24 Guest Speaker
4/5 Vitale Ch. 3, The School to Prison Pipeline
4/7 Guest Speaker
4/12 Vitale Ch. 4
4/14 Guest Speaker
4/19 Vitale Ch. 6. The Failures of Policing Sex Work
4/21 Guest Speaker, Final Paper Topic Due
4/26 Vitale Ch. 7, The War on Drugs
4/28 Guest Speaker
5/3 Vitale Ch. 8, Gang Suppression Policing
5/5 Guest Speaker, Annotated Bibliography Due
5/10 Vitale Ch. 9, Boarder Policing
5/12 Guest Speaker
5/17 Vitale Conclusion
5/24 Final Paper Due by 5PM