Student Name
Norma Wright
Course and Section Number
Program of Study
Introduction to Criminal Justice-3
Criminal Justice
Introduction to Criminal Justice
CCJ 1020
Week 3 Individual Work
Development of Criminal Behavior
Assignment Instructions
To complete this assignment:
1. Answer all of the questions below. Use the shaded boxes for your answers. They expand to accommodate your writing.
2. Reflect on the information presented in this week’s lesson and provide an insightful response to each question using a paragraph.
3. An example of an excellent response is given for you.
Save and Submit to Dropbox
1. Save your work as a Microsoft Word 2010 (.docx) file that includes your name, course code, and title in the file name. For example: JaneSmith_CCJ1020_Week3.docx.
2. To submit your assignment, go to the Dropbox and click "Submit Assignment."
3. Click on the drop-down menu to select the Week 3: Individual Work basket in the Dropbox.
Objective: Characterize crime and theories linked to crime, including different types of crime, the factors that influence crime rates and trends, and the strengths and weaknesses of the methods used to measure crime
EXAMPLE: Give several examples of misbehavior observed in juveniles and apply the theories of criminal behavior to those observations. Explain the corrections process and why you feel it was effective.
While serving as an assistant Scoutmaster for a Boy Scout Troop, I observed several examples of misbehavior in juvenile males. In one instance, two brothers were required to share the same tent. The younger brother cut tiny holes in the top of the tent over the older brother's sleeping bag. When questioned, he replied that he'd had an argument with his brother about how to arrange the sleeping bags and he wanted him to get wet when it rained. This individual was disciplined for destroying Troop property. In a second instance, a scout was observed lighting cooking fuel canisters on fire to see if they would explode. He was observed by a Troop leader who stopped the action immediately. This scout was confined to his tent until his parents could pick him up from the campout. The third instance I observed was at a summer camp. The scouts had been given glow sticks for a campfire activity. Later, I learned that a few scouts had cut the sticks open and painted the ceiling of a tent with them. Then, they were charging other scouts a few cents to come into the tent to see it. When questioned, the perpetrators said that they had done this on a campout with another organization and it was fun. They were disciplined by being asked to clean up the tent and to return the money they had collected.
Since these individuals were juveniles, it's difficult to say how some of the theories of crime should be applied. Social Process Theory appears to be the best explanation. It appears that revenge, the need for a thrill, and the need for peer acceptance came into play. I predict, based on the discipline applied, that these scouts will learn to value property that does not belong to them, handle unsafe objects safely, and entertain themselves in ways that doesn't damage property.
Example a. What references, if any, were used to assist you in answering the question?
Textbook, pages 104-107
1. Describe a person who comes from what is typically described as a "good" family background who HAS fallen into criminal behavior. This individual may be from a news story or someone you know personally from your family, school, or community. Refer to this individual as Person A. Which theories of crime do you feel would apply? Why?
Person A was raised in a stable home. She had both parents who provided a loving environment. As person A became a teenager she began hanging out with the bad kids in school. She began using illegal drugs, committing crimes, and got into trouble with the local police department.
