CRIMINOLOGY
SOCIOLOGY 215-W
DePauw University
Spring 2012
MWF 8:10-9:10 a.m.

Professor Rebecca Bordt
Office: 332 Asbury Hall
Office phone: 658-4521
Home phone: 653-1328 
Office hours: MW 1:30-3 p.m. or by appointment
rbordt@depauw.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION

	Why do you fear the stranger in the alley more than your intimate partner? What is crime and who gets to decide?  How do the motives of the “Beltway Snipers,” Enron executives and the neighborhood burglar differ?  Is plea bargaining a good bargain? Why is the U.S. prison population a sea of black and brown faces?  What is restorative justice and is it worth our attention?

	This course explores theoretical explanations of criminal behavior, empirical research on crime in diverse contexts, and policy debates on crime control and punishment.  Our intent will be to raise critical questions and challenge commonly-held views about the nature of crime and punishment in the United States today.  We will operate under the assumption that crime and punishment are social phenomena; they can only be understood by analyzing their relationship to the broader social, political, economic and cultural contexts in which they exist.  The class is organized around crime and crime policy in three social contexts: the street, the workplace and intimate/family relations.  Within each of these contexts we will ask how the intersection of race, social class and gender influence crime and our responses to it.

This course is part of DePauw’s competency program in writing (“W” course).  We will spend class time discussing and practicing the craft of writing.  All of the assignments are writing-based  and we will be writing in and outside of class on a weekly basis.

COURSE GOALS

	The goals for the course are as follows:  1) Dispel popular misconceptions about crime and the criminal justice system; 2) Understand the crime problem sociologically, using race, social class and gender as analytic lenses; 3) Recognize the complexity of social behavior, groups, organizations and institutions and how that influences our explanations for, and solutions to, crime.  4) Acquire and fine-tune the skills of comparison, critique and application of theoretical concepts to the real world.  5) Improve critical thinking, discussion and writing skills.

To determine W certification, I will ask the following questions: 
1.   Have you acquired and refined your technical skills as a writer?
2.   Can you develop a clear argument and back it up with convincing evidence?
3.   Are you able to demonstrate in writing the meaning of a theory or theoretical concept and apply it to data in the real world?
4.   Have you demonstrated the ability to take critical comments about your writing and revise your work effectively?
5.   Can you offer constructive criticism to others about their writing?
6.   Can you read your own written work critically and identify ways to improve it on your own?

If I can answer "yes," on a satisfactory level (C- or better) for each of the above questions, you will become W certified. W certification and passing the course are not one in the same. It is possible to pass the course, but not receive W certification. Conversely, it is possible to become W certified without passing the course. Your letter grade will be based on completing the course requirements listed below.

REQUIRED READINGS

The following books are available on-line and at the university bookstore:

1.  Cromwell, Paul.  2010.   In Their Own Words: Criminals on Crime, 5th edition.  NY:  Oxford. ISBN:  9780195383195
2.  Glassner, Barry.  2010.  The Culture of Fear:  Why Americans are Afraid of the Wrong Things.  NY:  Basic.  (10th anniversary edition.) ISBN:  9780465003365
3.  Sanday, Peggy Reeves.  2007.  Fraternity Gang Rape:  Sex, Brotherhood, and Privilege on Campus, 2nd edition.  NY: NYU Press. ISBN  9780814740385
4.  King, Joyce.  2003.  Hate Crime:  The Story of a Dragging in Jasper, Texas.  NY:  Anchor.
	ISBN: 978385721950
5.  Bach, Amy. 2009. Ordinary Injustice:  How America Holds Court.  NY: Henry Holt and Co. ISBN:  9780805092271

Additional required readings will be available on Moodle.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Papers.  You will be assigned 5 papers.  The specifics of each assignment will be distributed in class.  Paper 1 (2 pages) is due February 3 with revision due February 6.  Paper 2 (5 pages) is due February 20 with revision due March 5. Paper 3 (5 pages) is due March 19 with revision due April 9.  Paper 4 (5 pages) is due April 20 with revision due May 4.  Paper 5 (3 pages) is due May 14.  See Appendix B for guidelines on proper citation style for sociology.

In-class writing assignments.  To ensure that you are keeping up with the reading, we will have a number of unannounced in-class writing assignments.  These cannot be made up if you miss class.  In-class writing assignments will be evaluated in terms of quality of content and quality of writing.

Class participation.  Everyone is expected to come to class having completed, thought about and prepared to discuss the assigned readings.  Class participation will be assessed in terms of the quality and regularity of your participation. Even though this is a relatively large class, discussion is central to its design.  Those of you who do not like to speak in large or small groups should reconsider taking this class.

COURSE POLICIES

How grades are calculated.  Grades will be determined using the following point and percentage systems.  In order to pass the course, students must complete all of the assignments.

Paper 1                        (required, but not graded)
Paper 2                        100 points
Paper 3                        100 points
Paper 4                        100 points
Paper 5                          50 points
Class participation & 
   in-class writing 
   assignments                50 points
                                  __________
Total                            400 points

Final grade:  90% and above = A-, A
                     80-89% = B-, B, B+
                     70-79% = C-, C, C+
                      60-69% = D
                      59% and below = F 

What the Grades Mean.

A = Work that goes beyond the requirements of the assignment by adding new insight, creativity and/or particularly thoughtful analysis.  Demonstrates a comprehensive command of the course material, an exceptional ability to apply concepts to the real world, and a superior ability to organize and express ideas.

B = Work that adequately meets the requirements of the assignment.  Demonstrates a solid command of the course material, an ability to apply concepts to the real world with only minor problems, and good organization and expression of ideas.

C = Work that partially meets the requirements of the assignment.  Demonstrates acceptable command of the course material, a basic ability to apply concepts to the real world with some gaps and problems, and moderate skill in the organization and expression of ideas.

D = Work that marginally meets the requirements of the assignment.  Demonstrates little command of the course material, minimal attempt to apply concepts to the real world, and limited ability to organize and express ideas.

F = Work that does not meet the requirements of the assignment.  Demonstrates no command of the course material, unable to appropriately or consistently apply concepts to the real world, and insufficiently organizes and expresses ideas.

Late Work/Make-up Work.  All papers are due in class on the dates indicated on the syllabus, unless I receive in advance an official notification that you will be off campus on university business (e.g., athletic event) or a message that you are gravely ill.  Unexcused late papers will be penalized one-half letter grade for every 24 hour period in which they are late.  Out of fairness to the entire class, no exceptions will be made (this includes minor illness, job interviews, weddings, delayed planes, etc.).  In-class writing assignments and class participation cannot, for obvious reasons, be made up. For both excused and unexcused absences from class, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed from your peers. 

Extra Credit.   None.  No exceptions.

Security Measures.  I ask that you keep copies (hard-copies and on your computer) of your papers before handing them in. If you are turning in your paper late, do not put it in my mailbox or under my office door.  It is your responsibility to contact me and make arrangements to give me your late work in person.

Honor Code.  As with all courses at DePauw University, you are bound by the policy on academic integrity.  I highly encourage you to reread the policy if you have not reread it this semester:  http://www.depauw.edu/handbooks/student/acadlife/app/aip/dishonesty/ 
Academic dishonesty includes the following:  cheating, fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty, plagiarism, multiple submissions, abuse of academic material, deception and misrepresentation, electronic dishonesty, and carelessness.  Each of these violations is described in detail in the Student Handbook.  See me if you have any questions about your obligation to uphold this policy.

Disabilities. In compliance with the American Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which prohibit discrimination based on disability, DePauw University is committed to providing equal access to academic programs and university-administered activities and reasonable modifications to students with disabilities. Questions regarding the University’s policy for students with disabilities, documentation of the disability and requests for modifications should be directed to the Coordinator of Student Disabilities Services, 302 Harrison, 658-6267.

Laptops.  Please no laptops in class for note-taking unless arranged through the ADA Coordinator. 

COURSE SCHEDULE

Readings are identified by the authors’ last names.  I have placed in brackets the location of each assignment (i.e., Moodle, Book, or Cromwell reader).
DATE	ASSIGNMENT	

WEEK 1
Jan 30, Feb 1, 3

	
Monday:  Introductions.  Get Paper 1 assignment.
 
WHEN IS A WRONG A CRIME?

Wednesday:  Lecture, “A Crime is a Crime is a Crime…Really?” 
Read before class: Hagan, “Defining Crime:  An Issue of Morality,” pp. 5-12 [Moodle]  

Friday:  Small group exercise:  defining crime. Paper 1 due.
Workshop Paper 1.
Read before class: Glassner, The Culture of Fear, pp. xi-xxxvi; 23-49. [Book]  
	
WEEK 2
Feb 6, 8, 10
	
Monday:  Lecture, “Media (Mis)Representations of Crime.” 
Read before class: Glassner, The Culture of Fear, pp. 109-150. [Book] 
Paper 1 revision due.  

Wednesday: Small group exercise:  dissecting “Cops”
Read before class: Glassner, The Culture of Fear, pp. 205-244. [Book]

HOW CRIME IS MEASURED

Friday:  Lecture, “Social Scientific Numbers and Narrative:  What do They Teach Us?”  Small group exercise:  playing the role of an ethnographer.  
Read before class: Barken, Criminology:  A Sociological Understanding, pp. 59-71. [Moodle]; Rosenfield, “Crime Decline in Context,” pp. 25-34. [Moodle]; Jacobs,“Researching Crack Dealers:  Dilemmas and Contradictions,” pp. 392-406. [Cromwell reader]

WEEK 3: 
Feb 13, 15, 17

THEORETICAL EXPLANATIONS FOR CRIME

Monday:  Lecture, “Conservatives are Fence Builders, Liberals are Fence Sitters and Radicals are Out in Left Field.”  Class exercise:  matching lyrics to theories. Get paper 2 assignment. 
Read before class: Williams, Blue Rage, Black Redemption:  A Memoir, pp. 3-42. [Moodle]

Wednesday:  Finish lecture.  Class exercise: four corners.  
Read before class: Williams, Blue Rage, Black Redemption:  A Memoir, pp. 42-75. [Moodle]

Friday: Lecture, “What do Ted, the Mad Biter and Giggling Grandma have in Common?  Serial Murder in America.”   
Read before class: Fox, The Will to Kill, pp. 105-118. [Moodle]  
	
WEEK 4: 
Feb 20, 22, 24	
STREET CRIME:  SERIAL KILLING

Monday: Film clip, “Murder by Number.” Discuss film. Paper 2 due.

Wednesday:  Small group exercise:  wrapping our minds around BTK.
Read before class: Magnus, 31 Years of the BTK Killer,” pp. 1-18. [Moodle]

STREET CRIME:  GANGS

Friday:  Lecture, “All Gang Activity is Criminal Activity:  A Modern Myth.”
Read before class: Stretesky and Pogrebin, “Gang-Related Gun Violence:  Socialization, Identity, and Self,” pp. 301-323 [Cromwell reader]. 
	
WEEK 5: 
Feb 27, 29, Mar 2	
Monday: Small group activity:  will the real Carlos Rodriguez please stand up?  Get paper 2 comments.
Read before class: Miller, “Gender and Victimization Risk among Young Women in Gangs,” pp. 324-337 [Cromwell reader]; Hagedorn, “Homeboys, Dope Fiends, Legits, and New Jacks,” pp. 338-349 [Cromwell reader]

Wednesday:  Film, “18th Street Gang.”  

STREET CRIME:  SEX WORK

Friday: Lecture, “Tricky Business:  The Social Organization of Sex Work.” 
Read before class: Dalla, “Night Moves:  A Qualitative Investigation of Street-Level Sex Work,” pp. 63-73 [Moodle]; Browne and Minichiello, “The Social Meanings Behind Male Sex Work,” pp. 598-622 [Moodle]

	
WEEK 6: 
Mar 5, 7, 9           

Monday:  Film, “Women in the Shadows.” Class exercise:  the choice between beige and gray. Paper 2 revision due.

Wednesday: Discuss reading.
Read before class: Romenseko and Miller, “The Second Step in Double Jeopardy:  Appropriating the Labor of Female Street Hustlers,” pp. 283-297 [Cromwell reader]  

WORKPLACE CRIME

Friday:  Small group exercise:  crime seriousness.  Film clip, “A Dangerous Business.” 
	
WEEK 7: 
Mar 12, 14, 16	
Monday:  Lecture, “White Collar Offenders:  Sick, Greedy or Pawns of Advanced Capitalist Society?” Get paper 3 assignment.
Read before class: Coleman, The Criminal Elite, pp. 1-15 [Moodle]

Wednesday:  Discuss readings.  
Read before class: Shover, Coffey and Hobbs, “Crime on the Line:  Telemarketing and the Changing Nature of Professional Crime,” pp. 205-223 [Cromwell reader]; Dabney, “Neutralization and Deviance in the Workplace:  Theft of Supplies and Medicines by Hospital Nurses,” pp. 235-248 [Cromwell reader]

Friday:  Film, “Hackers.”
Read before class: Holt, “Becoming a Computer Hacker:  Examining the Enculturation and Development of Computer Deviants,” pp. 109-123 [Cromwell reader]

WEEK 8:
Mar 19, 21, 23	
Monday: Discuss readings for last Friday and today. Paper 3 due.
Read before class: Copes and Vieraitis, “ Identity Theft:  Assessing Offenders’ Motivations and Strategies, “ pp. 124-137 [Cromwell reader] 

Wednesday:  In class assignment.

Friday: In class assignment.
	
WEEK 9: 
Mar 26, 28, 30	
Spring Break!
	
WEEK 10: 
Apr 2, 4, 6	INTIMATE VIOLENCE:  RAPE

Monday:  Class exercise:  three vignettes. Get Paper 3 comments.
Read before class: Sanday, Fraternity Gang Rape, pp. 1-50 [Book]

Wednesday:  Lecture, “Rape:  Definitions, Prevalence and Contexts”
Read before class: Sanday, Fraternity Gang Rape, pp. 53-82 [Book]

Friday:  Discuss Sanday, part I
Read before class: Sanday, Fraternity Gang Rape, pp. 83-125 [Book]
	
WEEK 11: 
Apr 9, 11, 13	
Monday: Lecture, “Rape from the Mouths of Rapists” Paper 3 revision due.
Read before class: Sanday, Fraternity Gang Rape, pp. 127-164 [Book]

Wednesday:  Film, “Rape is…” Get Paper 4 assignment.
Read before class: Sanday, Fraternity Gang Rape, pp. 165-197 [Book]

Friday: No class. RB at conference
Read instead of class: Sanday, Fraternity Gang Rape, pp. 198-236 [Book]
	
WEEK 12: 
Apr 16, 18, 20	
Monday:  Discuss Sanday, part II  

INTIMATE VIOLENCE:  HATE CRIME

Wednesday:  Lecture, “When Hate Motivates Crime.” Paper 4 due.
Read before class: King, Hate Crime, pp. 3-50 [Book] 

Friday:  Discuss King, parts 1 and 2 
Read before class: King, Hate Crime, pp. 53-112 [Book]

WEEK 13: 
Apr 23, 25, 27	
Monday:  Film, “Killing Time.” Discuss King, part 3
Read before class: King, Hate Crime, pp. 115-213 [Book]

CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESPONSES TO CRIME

Wednesday:  Lecture, “Why and How We Punish in the U.S.” Get paper 4 comments.
Read before class: Bach, How America Holds Court, pp. 1-32 [Book] 

Friday:  Film, “The Plea”—first 60 minutes. 
Read before class: Bach, How America Holds Court, pp. 33-76 [Book]

WEEK 14: 
Apr 30, May 2, 4	
Monday:   Film, “The Plea”—last 30 minutes. Discuss film. 
Read before class: Bach, How America Holds Court, pp. 77-129 [Book]

Wednesday:  Discuss first half of book.
Read before class: Bach, How America Holds Court, pp. 130-188 [Book] 

Friday:  Lecture, “U.S. Prisons:  Incubators and Exporters of Racism” Paper 4 revision due.
Read before class: Bach, How America Holds Court, pp. 189-230 [Book] 
	
WEEK 15: 
May 7, 9	
Monday:  Discuss second half of book.  Get paper 5 assignment.
Read before class: Bach, How America Holds Court, pp. 230-266 [Book]

Wednesday:  Lecture, “Comparing Criminal Justice Responses to Street Crime, Intimate Violence, and White Collar Crime.” End of the semester wrap-up. 

Paper 5 due Monday, May 14, 2012, 8:30-11:30 a.m. in my office.

APPENDIX A
Preparing Notes and References, ASA Format
DePauw University Writing Center

When writing a documented paper, keep in mind two basic principles when citing your source:
1.	Your reader must be able to find the source from the information in your citation.
2.	Your reader must be able to immediately determine which information is borrowed from a source and which information is your own.  

Forms for footnoting may vary depending upon the discipline or the department you are writing for.  At DePauw, many professors of History, Art History, Religious Studies and others prefer the formats presented in the Chicago Manual of Style.  In general, though, the humanities (English, languages, Religion, Philosophy, Art, Music) use the style recommended by the Modern Language Association (MLA) and the social sciences use the form recommended by the American Psychological Association (APA).  However, within some social sciences, the documentation differs slightly; for instance, Sociology.  This guide is adapted from the American Sociological Association format. 

General Principles for Quoting and In-Text Citation

If you quote directly, even if you use no more than a word or phrase, you must place quotation marks around the quoted material.
When writing an analytical research paper, you are expected to do more than simply string together quotes or paraphrased section of sources; a substantial portion of the paper should be your own ideas, judgments and conclusions about the subject.  
ASA format requires in-text citations; this citation is a parenthetical note including the author’s last name, year of publication, and page number – for example, (Stantrock 1997: 168.)  The page number is only included when you quote directly from the work or refer to specific passages, otherwise the author’s last name and publication date are sufficient.  

Martin’s goal in designing her assessment tool was “to document criminal behavior and predict later recidivism rates” (Stantrock 1997: 168).  One limitation of Martin’s research is the limited number of crimes it tests; only white collar criminals are included in the assessment (Ross, 1998).  Poznanski (1998) believes that if Martin would have included crimes against a person as well as white collar crimes, the results would have differed significantly.  

Notice that in the above example, the second and third sentences do not contain quoted material.  However, if you paraphrase (rephrase in your own words), you must still cite your source, including a full documentation in the reference list.  

WARNING:  If your “paraphrased” material uses primarily the wording of your source, you are in danger of plagiarizing.  Either use quotation marks or completely reword and restate the source.  

In addition, if there are three authors, give all last names in the first citation in the text; afterwards use the first name and et al.; for more than three names, use the first author’s last name and et al during all citations.  
For example:  (Smith, Garcia and Lee 1956: 15)  (Smith et al. 1956: 17)

All references cited in the text must be listed in a reference list following the paper in a separate section headed “References.”

References

A reference list following the ASA style is arranged alphabetically by author’s last name.  If no author is provided, alphabetize by the title of the article or book.  This list is double-spaced and includes hanging indentions; meaning that the second and subsequent lines of an individual bibliographic entry are indented or “tabbed” in five spaces.  Multiple items by the same author are arranged in order by year of publication, earliest year first.  After the first citation by that author, six hyphens and a period (------.) can replace the name in repeated references.  

The following examples demonstrate the standard form for providing bibliographic information in ASA style.  
For books, the information appears as follows: 

Author’s Last name, first name and middle initial.  Year of Publication.  Title of Book.  City of Publication: Publisher.  
A journal article is slightly different:

Author’s last name, first name and middle initial.  Year of publication.  “Title of article.”  Name of Journal volume number: page number(s).   
Note that all entries appear double spaced with hanging indentation. 

For further examples, please see the attached page.   

Sample References

Books (One Author)
De Anda, Roberto M. 1995. Chicanas and Chicanos in Contemporary Society. Boston, 
             MA: Allyn and Bacon.
Books (Two Authors)
Herrera-Sobek, María and Helena María Viramontes. 1995. Chicana (W)rites: On Word and Film. Berkeley, CA: Third Woman Press.
Chapter in Book
Nathan, Peter E. and Raymond S. Niaura. 1987. "Prevention of Alcohol Problems." Pp. 333-354 in Treatment and Prevention of Alcohol Problems: A Resource Manual, edited by W.M. Cox.  Orlando, FL: Academic Press, Inc.
No Author
Manual of Style. 1993. 14th ed. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
Journal Articles (One Author)
Garcia, Alma M. 1998. "An Intellectual Odyssey: Chicana/Chicano Studies Moving into the Twenty-first Century." Journal of American Ethnic History 18:109.
Journal Article (Two or More Authors)
Exum, William H., Robert J. Menges, Bari Watkins, and Patricia Berglund.1984. "Making it at the Top: Women and Minority Faculty in the Academic Labor Market." American Behavioral Scientist 27:301-324.
Magazine
Jana, Reena. 2000. "Preventing Culture Clashes - As the IT Workforce Grows More Diverse, Managers Must Improve Awareness Without Creating Inconsistency." InfoWorld, April 24, pp. 95.
Newspaper
Rimland, Bernard. 2000. "Do Children's Shots Invite Autism?" Los Angeles Times, April 26, A13.
Articles Retrieved in Electronic Format
Commercial Databases
Graham, Lorie M. 1998. "The Past Never Vanishes: A Contextual Critique of the Existing Indian Family Doctrine" American Indian Law Review, 23:1. Retrieved May 25, 1999 Available: LEXIS-NEXIS Academic Universe, Law Reviews.

Web Version of Newspapers
Clary, Mike. 2000. "Vieques Protesters Removed Without Incident." Los Angeles Times, May 5. Retrieved May 5, 2000 (http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/updates/lat_vieques000505.htm).
Web Base Journals
Smith, Herman W. and Takako Nomi. 2000. "Is Amae the Key to
Understanding Japanese Culture?." Electronic Journal of 
Sociology 5:1. Retrieved May 5, 2000 (http://www.sociology.org/content/vol005.001/smith-nomi.html).
Information Posted on a Web Site
American Sociological Association. 2000. "Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Workshop." Washington, DC: American Sociological Association, Retrieved May 5, 2000 (http://www.asanet.org/members/socwkshp.html).
Government Documents
United States. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development. 1999. Rehab a home with HUD's 203(k): HUD and FHA are on your side. Washington, DC: U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development.
Dissertations & Theses
Valencia, Albert. 1995. "An Examination of Selected Characteristics of Mexican-American Battered Women and Implications for Service Providers." Ph.D. dissertation, Department of Education, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA.

Please email me (rbordt@depauw.edu) before class on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 to verify that you have read this syllabus closely.  Doing so will give you one “free” unexcused absence from class.