Question Set # 1

There are three primary objectives for this exercise. Objective one (1) requires the students in CCJ 5015 to become comfortable with the crime measurement in the field of criminal justice. Objective two requires students to become familiar with the distinction between the classical school of thought and the positivist school of thought. To meet these two objectives, students are expected to use the course readings and empirical research to respond to the following questions.

Activity

1)In paragraph format with proper punctuation and citation format (APA), respond to the following questions regarding crime measurement.

  1. Which form of measurement is considered the official measure of crime? How is this form of crime measurement constructed? In other words, how does the FBI come up with its final numbers for its annual reports?
  1. What are the strengths and weaknesses associated with the UCR? What crime measurement movement is occurring that is designed to replace the UCR? What are the potential benefits to this approach? What obstacles have hindered its development and acceptance among law enforcement agencies nationwide?
  1. What is the “dark figure” of crime? What form of measurement was designed to get at the “Dark Figure” of crime? Describe the method by which data is collected using this technique. Pinpoint the respective strengths and weaknesses of this approach.
  1. What technique has been cited as the best method for identifying the etiology of crime? What are its respective strengths and weaknesses?
  1. Finally, what is the best method for understanding the nature and extent of crime in our society? Explain why using the relevant literature, NOT your opinion!

2)In paragraph format with proper punctuation and citation format (APA), respond to the following questions regarding positivist and classicalist thinking.

  1. Describe the classical school of thought. Who were the founding founders of classical criminology? What does it propose is the cause of human behavior?
  1. Describe the positivist school of thought. Who were the founding founders of positivist criminology? What does it propose is the cause of human behavior?
  1. How have these two viewpoints formed the basis for modern day criminological thought?
  1. Which side is right (the classicalists or the positivists)?