UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK
DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
CCJS 651 Seminar in Criminology
Spring 2015
Professor John H. Laub
Course Synopsis:
This course provides a general introduction to the study of the causes of crime from an
interdisciplinary perspective. The central focus centers on the major theories of crime causation
developed over the past two hundred years. Significant issues in criminology -- for example, the
role of age, race, gender, and social class in crime causation as well as explanations of specific
forms of crime such as violence and white collar crime -- are highlighted and discussed. In
addition, special attention is devoted to the measurement of crime and what is known from the
available empirical data on the nature and extent of crime in the United States.
Required Readings:
(1)
Thomas J. Bernard, Jeffrey B. Snipes, and Alexander L. Gerould. Vold’s Theoretical
Criminology, Sixth Edition. Oxford University Press, 2010.
(2)
Francis T. Cullen, Robert Agnew, and Pamela Wilcox. Criminological Theory: Past to
Present Essential Readings, Fifth Edition. Oxford University Press, 2014.
(3)
Clayton J. Mosher, Terance D. Miethe, and Timothy C. Hart. The Mismeasure of Crime,
Second Edition. Sage Publications, 2011.
Course Requirements:
(1)
An in-class midterm examination will be given on March 24, 2015. This exam will
account for 30% of your final grade. More information on this exam will be provided in
class.
(2)
A paper of 10-15 typed pages is due at the start of class on April 21, 2015. This paper will
account for 30% of your final grade. More information on this assignment will be
provided in class.
(3)
An in-class final examination will be given on May 19, 2015. This exam will account for
30% of your final grade. More information on this assignment will be provided in class.
(4)
Class participation will count for the remaining 10% of your grade. Class participation is
measured by class attendance, class preparation (e.g., completing the assigned readings
prior to class), and active participation during class discussions (e.g., asking questions,
answering my questions, and not sleeping, reading a newspaper, surfing the web, etc.).
Office Hours and Class Meeting Times:
My office is located in 2135 LeFrak Hall. Office hours are Tuesday mornings from 10:00 to 12:0
and Thursday mornings from 10:00 to 12:00. All other days and times are by appointment only.
Contact info – phone: 301-405-8070 and email: jlaub@umd.edu.
This class meets Tuesdays, 4:00 to 6:45, in Tydings 1118.
Academic Dishonesty and Honor Pledge:
The University of Maryland, College Park has a nationally recognized Code of Academic
Integrity, administered by the Student Honor Council. This Code sets standards for academic
integrity at Maryland for all undergraduate and graduate students. As a student you are
responsible for upholding these standards for this course. It is very important for you to be aware
of the consequences of cheating, fabrication, facilitation, and plagiarism. For more information
on the Code of Academic Integrity or the Student Honor Council, please visit
http://www.shc.umd.edu. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Any student suspected of
academic dishonesty will be referred to the Honor Council.
To further exhibit your commitment to academic integrity, remember to sign the Honor Pledge on
all examinations and assignments: “I pledge on my honor that I have not given or received any
unauthorized assistance on this assignment/examination.”
Students with Disabilities:
Any student with a documented disability who wishes to discuss academic accommodations,
please contact me by February 10, 2015.
Course Outline:
Jan. 27
Introduction and Overview of the Course: The Idea of Theory in Criminology
Readings: Bernard, Snipes, and Gerould, Ch. 1
Cullen, Agnew, and Wilcox, Introduction and Part I
Feb. 3, 10
Sources of Criminological Data and the Correlates of Crime
Readings: Mosher, Miethe, and Hart, whole book
Bernard, Snipes, and Gerould, Ch. 15, pps. 305-311
Feb. 17
Classical and Neo-Classical School Perspectives
Readings: Bernard, Snipes, and Gerould, Ch. 2
Cullen, Agnew, and Wilcox, Parts XI and XII
Feb. 24
Biological and Psychological Theories
Readings: Bernard, Snipes, and Gerould, Ch. 3 & 4
Cullen, Agnew, and Wilcox, Part II
Mar. 3
Social Disorganization Theories and Contemporary Theories of Community
Processes
Readings: Bernard, Snipes, and Gerould, Ch. 7
Cullen, Agnew, and Wilcox, Part III
Mar. 10
Strain Theories
Readings: Bernard, Snipes, and Gerould, Ch. 5, 6 & 8
Cullen, Agnew, and Wilcox, Part V
Mar. 17
SPRING BREAK
Mar. 24
MIDTERM EXAMINATION
Mar. 31,
Apr. 7
Cultural Deviance, Differential Association, and Social Learning Theories
Readings: Bernard, Snipes, and Gerould, Ch. 9
Cullen, Agnew, and Wilcox, Part IV
Apr. 14
Control Theories
Readings: Bernard, Snipes, and Gerould, Ch. 10
Cullen, Agnew, and Wilcox, Part VI
Apr. 21*, 28
Labeling, Conflict, Critical, and Feminist Theories
Readings: Bernard, Snipes, and Gerould, Ch. 11-14
Cullen, Agnew, and Wilcox, Parts VII-IX
May 5, 12
Current Issues in Theory and Research: A Focus on Developmental/Life-Course
Theories of Crime, Integrated Theories of Crime, and the Future of Criminological
Theory and Research
Readings: Bernard, Snipes, and Gerould, Ch. 15-17
Cullen, Agnew, and Wilcox, Parts XIII, XV
May 19
FINAL EXAMINATION
*
Reminder: All papers are due at the start of class.
SUPPLEMENTAL READING LIST
CCJS 651 Seminar in Criminology
Sources of Criminological Data and the Correlates of Crime
Gove, Walter R., Michael Hughes, and Michael Geerken. 1985. "Are the Uniform Crime Reports a Valid
Indicator of Index Crimes?" Criminology 23:451-501.
Maxfield, Michael G. 1999. “The National Incident-Based Reporting System: Research and Policy
Applications.” Journal of Quantitative Criminology 15:119-149.
Huizinga, David and Delbert S. Elliott. 1986. "Reassessing the Reliability and Validity of Self-Report
Delinquency Measures." Journal of Quantitative Criminology 2:293-327.
Thornberry, Terence P. and Marvin D. Krohn. 2000. “The Self-Report Method for Measuring Delinquency
and Crime.” In CJ 2000: Innovations in Measurement and Analysis, edited by David Duffee, Robert D.
Crutchfield, Steven Mastrofski, Lorraine Mazerolle, David McDowall, and Brian Ostrom. Washington,
DC: National Institute of Justice.
Steffensmeier, Darrell J., Emilie Andersen Allan, Miles D. Harer, and Cathy Streifel. 1989. "Age and the
Distribution of Crime." American Journal of Sociology 94:803-831.
Steffensmeier, Darrell J. 1993. "National Trends in Female Arrests, 1960-1990: Assessment and
Recommendations for Research." Journal of Quantitative Criminology 9:411-441.
Hindelang, Michael J., Travis Hirschi, and Joseph G. Weis. 1979. "Correlates of Delinquency: The
Illusion of Discrepancy Between Self-Report and Official Measures." American Sociological Review
44:995-1014.
Elliott, Delbert S. and Suzanne S. Ageton. 1980. "Reconciling Race and Class Differences in Self-Reported
and Official Estimates of Delinquency." American Sociological Review 45:95-110.
Laub, John H. 1987. "Data for Positive Criminology." Pp. 56-70 in Positive Criminology. Michael
Gottfredson and Travis Hirschi (editors). Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.
Hawkins, Darnell F., John H. Laub, and Janet L. Lauritsen. 1998. "Race, Ethnicity, and Serious Juvenile
Offending." Pp. 30-46 in Serious and Violent Juvenile Offenders. Rolf Loeber and David P. Farrington
(editors). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Blumstein, Alfred, Jacqueline Cohen, Jeffrey Roth, and Christy Visher. 1986. "Introduction: Studying
Criminal Careers." Pp. 12-30 in Criminal Careers and "Career Criminals,” Volume I. Washington, D.C.:
National Academy Press.
Weis, Joseph G. 1986. "Issues in the Measurement of Criminal Careers." Pp. 1-51 in Criminal Careers and
"Career Criminals,” Volume II. Alfred Blumstein, Jacqueline Cohen, Jeffrey Roth, and Christy Visher
(editors). Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.
Gottfredson, Michael and Travis Hirschi. 1986. “The True Value of Lambda Would Appear to Be Zero: An
Essay on Career Criminals, Criminal Careers, Selective Incapacitation, Cohort Studies, and Related
Topics.” Criminology 24:213-234.
Elliott, Delbert S. 1994. "Serious Violent Offenders: Onset, Developmental Course, and Termination."
Criminology 32:1-21.