Objective: Imagine you’re a politician, with unlimited resources at your disposal, interested in using crime reduction or prevention as one of your campaign platforms. Choose one theory discussed thus far to design your crime reduction/prevention strategy if elected. Your strategy should be based on the theoretical arguments and expectations put forward by whichever theory you choose. In your assignment, you should identify the theory you have chosen, give a brief summary of the theory, then explain how you would reduce or prevent crime in the community based on that theory. You need not consult any outside sources, but you should cite course readings and lecture content where appropriate. Remember, in this scenario you have unlimited resources to work with, so be creative.
An “A” paper will accomplish the following goals:
- Clearly identify the theory chosen
- Provide a brief summary of the key theoretical arguments of the theory
- Present a clear strategy for reducing or preventing community-level crime
- Strategy should be based on the chosen theory
- Clearly connect your strategy to the theory you chose
- Be well-written, taking care to minimize spelling and grammatical errors
- Include an introduction and conclusion
Format:
- 2-3 pages double-spaced of text (but remember, this is a guideline, not a strict rule)
- Include a cover page with a title, your name, the course number, and the date
Late paper policy: Late papers will be accepted, but they will incur a 5% penalty for each day
Theories to choose from:
- Social Disorganization Theory
- Differential Social Organization Theory
- General Strain Theory
- Routine Activities Theory
- Rational Choice Theory (also called Rational Offender Perspective)
- Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
- Broken Windows Theory
