Criminal Law Theories

You have just been named Police Chief of Las Cruces. Congratulations. The Las Cruces Police Department is undergoing the largest reform in its history and has chosen you to lead this endeavor. You will implement new policies to address current law enforcement. The purpose of the final exam is to allow you to not only obtain information and knowledge about major theoretical approaches to understanding the causes of crime, but also transition you into thinking about what you do with this knowledge. You will write a (7-10 pages double-spaced) persuasive/argumentative essay. A persuasive/argumentative essay uses reason to show that one idea is more legitimate than another idea. It attempts to persuade a reader to adopt a certain point of view or to take a particular action. This type of essay must present evidence, facts, empirical data, statistics, theories, or examples, in order to defend one’s claims. You are required to use information you have gathered from your readings over the course of the semester. Outside research is welcomed, but you will be graded on how well you summarize, integrate, and utilize information from the required readings from this course. You may use any theoretical framework covered in class: Classical School, Positive School, Chicago School, Differential Association, Anomie Theory, Subculture Theory, Labeling Theory, Conflict Theory, Social Control Theory, Gender-Based Theory, Rational Theory, Critical Criminology.