Assignment Overview

For this assignment, you will have the opportunity to choose a criminological theory or perspective you have learned in class and apply it to a specific real-life case of your choice. You are encouraged to choose a case that corresponds to a crime that is covered in the course textbook in one of the following chapters:

• Violent Crime (Chapter 9)
• Property Crime (Chapter 10)
• White-Collar Crime (Chapter 11)
• Political Crime and Terrorism (Chapter 12)
• Organized Crime (Chapter 13)
• Public Order Crime (Chapter 14)
• Cybercrime and the Future of Crime (Chapter 15)

The assignment aims to demonstrate your understanding of criminological theories or perspectives and your ability to analyze and interpret how these theories can be used to explain criminal behavior in a specific case. You should select a case and a theory/perspective that you have not previously discussed in class discussions. You may use 1-2 reputable media sources (e.g., documentaries; newspapers; online news sources) to discuss the background/details of the case; however, please do not use blogs or "true crime" websites.

Word Limit: 2,500 words (excluding references)

Structure of Paper and Instructions

(Note: Youmust use the following as Section Headers for your paper):

1. Introduction (approx. 250 words)
2. • Provide a brief overview of the assignment's purpose and objectives.
   • Introduce the chosen criminological theory/perspective and its significance in understanding criminal behavior.
   • State the importance of analyzing a real-life criminal case using the selected theory/perspective.
   • Signpost your paper (i.e., "tell us where we are going and how we will get there").
3. Criminological Theory/Perspective: (approx. 150 words)
4. • Select one of the criminological theories/perspectives learned in class and explain your process for choosing it.
   • Justify your choice by highlighting its relevance to the case you intend to analyze.
5. Criminal Case: (approx. 150 words)
6. • Briefly describe the chosen real-life criminal case, including the nature of the crime and individuals involved.
   • Explain why you find this case particularly intriguing and suitable for analysis.
7. Research on the Name (approx. 350 words)
8. • Summarize the findings of your research on the chosen criminal case.
   • Provide background information, details of the crime, and relevant facts about the individuals involved.
9. Analyzing the Case using (Approx. 700 words)
10. • Apply the selected criminological theory/perspective to the case and demonstrate how it can explain the criminal behavior observed.
    • Analyze the motives, influences, and factors that align with the theory/perspective's principles.
    • Provide specific examples and evidence to support your analysis.
11. Evaluating 's Applicability (Approx. four hundred words)
    • Evaluate the strengths and limitations of the chosen criminological theory/perspective in explaining the specific criminal case.
    • Discuss any aspects of the case that the theory/perspective may not fully account for.
    • Reflect on how the theory/perspective contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the criminal behavior observed.
12. Recommendations and Implications (Approx. 350 words)
    • Offer practical recommendations for crime prevention or intervention strategies based on the analysis.
    • Discuss the potential implications of applying the theory/perspective's principles to real-world criminal justice practices.
    • Explain how implementing these recommendations might lead to more effective crime reduction or societal improvements.
13. Conclusion (Approx. 150 words)
    • Summarize the key findings from the analysis of the criminal case using the chosen criminological theory.
    • Reflect on the significance of this exercise in enhancing your understanding of criminological theories and their real-world applications.
14. References
    • Provide a list of academic sources used throughout the assignment using APA style.

Assessment

The assignment will be assessed based on the following criteria:

• Clarity of communication: proper grammar/punctuation, correct spelling, and overall structure.
• Depth and accuracy of analysis.
• In addition to the textbook and optional readings (where applicable), use of credible external sources to support arguments and comparisons (note: the textbook alone is not sufficient).
• Overall reflection and thoughtful recommendations for crime prevention or intervention strategies.

Note: You must cite reputable sources and provide a list of references for your research using APA style. Avoid relying solely on biased or unreliable sources found on the internet. Donot rely solely on the course textbook.

Additional Resources

Your written assignment is intended to test your understanding of important concepts and to sharpen your intellectual skills of analysis, synthesis, evaluation, and application. The intent of the written assignment is to provide an opportunity to more fully describe, explain, and analyze the books and other sources. Be sure to cite any and all sources correctly so that your academic integrity is not called into question. Throughout this course, these resources will enable you to successfully complete written assignments:

1. Empire State University's Online Library: designed to allow students to search through a well-rounded collection of e-books, videos, online journals, reference resources and databases. Librarians also provide workshops and services via email, phone, chat and the Web.
2. Empire State University'sOnline Writing Center: designed to help students quickly and easily find the services and resources they need to become successful, independent writers.

Please read the SUNY Empire State University statement on Academic Integritybefore submitting any work for this course. Be sure to cite any and all sources correctly so that your academic integrity is not called into question.