Discussion Question

Introduction

September 11, 2001, is a day that few will forget. Among other things, it marked the reality of terrorism and the global reach of crime in America, even though other such acts had occurred prior to 9-11. This week, the last in the course, continues to focus on "crime in the modern world," specifically on drug and public order crimes, varieties of terrorism, the impact of globalization on crime and criminal activity including global or transnational crime, and "high-tech" crimes. And, as you come to the end of your journey in this course, you step back and consider the "so what" of the social problems and social responsibility perspectives you have analyzed and applied - that is, the impact or effect one perspective or another has in the actual creation and adoption of policy and the approaches and actions taken to prevent and control crime.

Learning Resources

Please read and view (where applicable) the following Learning Resources before you complete this week's assignments.

Readings

Course Text: Schmalleger, F. (2015). Criminology today: An integrative introduction (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall 

• Chapter 13, "Drug and Drug Crimes"

• Chapter 14, "Technology and Crime"

• Chapter 15, "Globalization and Terrorism"

Who’s to Blame?

This week you again read and reflect on the “Who’s to Blame” boxes in each chapter, considering crime and its causes against the backdrop of the social problems and social responsibility perspectives and, thus, connecting theory and reality. The vignettes you consider this week provide examples of public order, drug, technology, and global/terrorism crimes and criminals. Again, you are invited to listen and watch for crimes of this type in the world this week and to think about whether society or the individual seems more responsible in each instance.

To prepare for this Discussion:

Review the assigned reading in Chapters 13, 14, and 15 of your course text, Criminology Today.

Review the “Who’s to Blame—The Individual or Society?” vignettes in Chapters 13, 14, and 15 of your course text, Criminology Today.

Review the “Think about it” questions in each “ Who’s to Blame?” box and consider how you would answer them.

Consider whom you believe to be more responsible for the crime in each vignette—the individual or society—and why.

Select one of the vignettes to use for this Discussion.

With these thoughts in mind:

Post by Day 3 the answers to the questions for the vignette you selected. Also, briefly explain whether you think the individual or society is more to blame for the crime portrayed and why.

Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources.