• Dr. P. Tontodonato
• Theories of Crime and Juvenile Delinquency
• Office: 113-G Bowman Hall
• Fall 2003
• Phone: 330-672-2775 (Dept. line manned 8:30-5:00)
• 330-672-0318 (Direct line/Voice mail)
• Office hours: Tu 1-3 p.m.; W 2-4 p.m. & 5-6 p.m.
• E-mail: ptontodo@kent.edu

Course Description and Overview:
This course is a graduate level introduction to a variety of explanations of crime and delinquency.  We will examine the major theories that have been utilized to account for criminal behavior and juvenile delinquency. In the tradition of graduate education, the course will be taught seminar style. (It is not a strictly lecture format course.) The student is expected to complete all reading assignments on time (prior to class) and actively participate in class discussion.

Required Readings:
(1) Required Texts:
Criminological Theory: Past to present (Essential readings), 2nd edition, Francis Cullen and Robert Agnew, 2003, Roxbury Publishing .

(2) Required reserve reading: The following materials have been placed on reserve at the KSU main library. (They are noted with "Reserve" in the course outline.) We will read excerpts from (1) Crime and Public Policy: Putting theory to work, Hugh Barlow, 1995, Westview Press and (2) selected articles as assigned.

Course Requirements and Grading:
(1) Completion of all reading assignments.

(2) Class participation and attendance. The KSU policy on attendance is that students are expected to attend class. I have the same expectation. The student is responsible for all missed work. Participation in class discussion and attendance are 10% of your grade.

(3) Examinations: There will be a mid-term (30% of grade) and a final exam (35% of grade). These exams are in-class, essay, and closed book.  The student is responsible for bringing blue books for the exams.

(4)  The student will need to check their Kent State e-mail account regularly, per University policy (if you use another e-mail account, have your kent e-mail forwarded).  This medium will be used for class related messages from the instructor on occasion as well as for official KSU communications.  In addition, the student will need to use the Internet to access and print out materials for the course (at www.personal.kent.edu/~ptontodo) and to do library research.

(5) Paper assignment: The student will write a research paper of 14-20 pages on a specific theory of criminality or delinquency. This work necessitates the use of scholarly databases found  through the KSU library.  Please allow for research time at KSU for this aspect of the course.  The paper is 25% of the grade and the topic must be approved in advance by the professor. This paper should cover the theory's development, modifications, and variants, as well as its policy implications and any attempts to test the validity of the theory. The paper topic is due October 15; a tentative bibliography is due October 29. The paper itself is due November 21 (Friday).
    The paper will be described in more detail on a separate handout, but please note that (1) No late papers will be accepted; (2) No papers on unapproved topics will be accepted; (3) The paper must be written specifically for this course and cannot be used for another course (past or present); (4) A paper which is purchased or one which the student has not him/herself done all the work (i.e., plagiarized) will receive a zero for the assignment and the student will be brought up on charges in Student Conduct Court.

Miscellaneous
(1) Students with disabilities: In accordance with KSU policy, if you have a documented disability and require accommodations to obtain equal access in this course, contact the professor at the beginning of the semester (or when given an assignment for which accommodation is required). Students with disabilities must verify their eligibility through the Office of Student Disability Services (SDS) in the Michael Schwartz Student Services Center.
(2) Official KSU holidays (i.e., no class): November 26 (Thanksgiving).  Students who attend the ASC conference on the 19th of November are officially excused from class.
(3) Note that this course has challenging reading assignments; assume you will read 40-60 pages per week for the course.

Course Outline:  Topic and Corollary Reading

Introduction --
Introduction: Understanding Criminological Theory, Cullen and Agnew (C&A), pp. 1-13
Theory and Public Policy--
Reserve: Barlow, Ch. 1, pp. 1-13
The origins of modern criminology--
Part I, C&A, pp. 15-19
The Classical School--
Chapter 1, C&A, pp. 20-25 (Beccaria);
Rational Choice and Routine Activities Theories--
Part 7, Chapters 25-27, C&A, pp. 263-293 (Stafford and Warr, Cornish and Clarke, Cohen and Felson);
Reserve: Barlow, Ch. 10 (Felson and Clarke, pp.179-190)
The Positivist School:
Biological and Psychological Theories--
Part II Introduction, C&A, pp. 27-35;
Chapter 5, C&A, pp. 64-72 (Rowe);
Chapter 6, C&A, pp. 73-81 (Caspi et al.);
Chapter 7, C&A, pp. 82-93 (Brennan and Raine)
Chicago School/Social Disorganization Theory--
Part III Introduction, C&A, pp. 95-103;
Chapter 8, C&A, pp. 104-110 (Shaw and McKay);
Chapter 10, C&A, pp. 118-123 (Sampson et al.)
Differential Association, Subcultural, and Social Learning Theories--
Part IV Introduction, C&A, pp. 125-130;
Chapter 11, C&A, pp. 131-134 (Sutherland and Cressey);
Chapter 13, C&A, pp. 142-154 (Akers);
Chapter 14, C&A, pp. 155-158 (Wolfgang and Ferracuti);
Chapter 15, C&A, pp. 159-169 (Anderson);
Barlow, Ch. 8 (Gorman and White, pp. 131-156)

Anomie/Strain Theories--
Part V Introduction, C&A, pp. 171-177;
Chapter 16, C&A, pp. 178-185 (Merton);
Chapter 17, C&A, pp. 186-190 (Cohen);
Chapter 19, C&A, pp. 198-207 (Rosenfeld and Messner);
Chapter 20, C&A, pp. 208-217 (Agnew);
Reserve: Barlow, Ch. 4 (Agnew, pp. 43-70)
Varieties of Control Theory--
Part VI Introduction, C&A, pp. 219-226;
Chapter 22, C&A, pp. 231-239 (Hirschi);
Chapter 23, C&A, pp. 240-252 (Gottfredson and Hirschi);
Reserve: Barlow, Ch. 6 (Laub et al., pp. 91-106)
Labeling, Interaction, and Crime--
Part VIII Introduction, C&A, pp. 295-303;
Chapter 28, C&A, pp. 304-307 (Lemert);
Chapter 29, C&A, pp. 308-315 (Matsueda);
Chapter 30, C&A, pp. 316-324 (Braithwaite);
Reserve: Barlow, Ch. 11 (Braithwaite, pp. 191-205)
Critical Criminology--
Part IX Introduction, C&A, pp. 333-342;                                                                                                                                                   
Chapter 36, C&A, pp. 379-386 (Colvin);
Chapter 37, C&A, pp. 387-395 (Quinney);
Reserve: Barlow, Ch. 2 (Turk, pp. 15-27)
Feminist Theories--
Part X Introduction, C&A, pp. 397-404;
Chapter 39, C&A, pp. 413-422 (Daly and Chesney-Lind);
Chapter 40, C&A, pp. 423-429 (Chesney-Lind);
Chapter 41, C&A, pp. 430-440 (Messerschmidt);
Reserve: Barlow, Ch. 12 (Stanko, pp. 207-226)
Integrated Theories-- 
Part XII Introduction, C&A, pp. 483-488;
Chapter 44, C&A, pp. 489-502 (Elliott et al.);
Chapter 45, C&A, pp. 503-514 (Thornberry)
Developmental Theories (if time permits)--
Part XI Introduction, C&A, pp. 441-449;
Chapter 43, C&A, pp. 470-482 (Sampson and Laub)

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Page last updated  August 27, 2003