COVENANT UNIVERSITY, OTA
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY
ALPHA SEMESTER 2014/2015
SOC 313 (SOCIOLOGY OF CRIME AND DELINQUENCY 1)
COLLEGE: College of Business and Social Sciences
Department: Sociology
Programme: Sociology
Course Code: SOC 313
Course Title: Sociology of Crime and Delinquency 1
Units: 2
Course Lecturer: Jegede, Ajibade Ebenezer
Semester: Alpha
Time: Tuesday 12-2 PM.
Location: B301
Brief overview of Course
This course will consider the concept of crime, delinquency and social control in the society. The
relevance of laws, rules and norms in the society and the relationships of social structure to the
identification of deviant behavior will be examined. Various theories of crime and social control
will be discussed.
Course Objectives/Goals
At the end of this course students are expected to:
Understand salient concepts and theories of crime and delinquency.
Relate theoretical principles to social realities of crime in modern society.
Consider the trend of crime treatment vis-à-vis the administration of criminal justice
Establish the relevance and shortcomings of social control mechanism in addressing the
problems of crime and delinquency in society.
Methods of Lecture Delivery/Teaching Aids
 Lecture Delivery Methods
Course lectures will be delivered through oral discussions. During lectures
few minutes will be devoted to teacher/students interaction on topics under
focus.
 Teaching Aids
Students are enjoined to access lecture materials on the university portal system and
give feedbacks when clarification of any sort is required. It is also important to note that
printing of lecture note is compulsory to all students. This will facilitate depth of knowledge
acquisition as discussion on various topics progresses in the course of the semester.
Course Outlines
Module 1
CONCEPTUALIZING CRIME AND DELINQUENCY
Week one
Introduction: Understanding crime and delinquency (part 1)
The concept and essential ingredients of crime.
Week two
Understanding the sociological concept of delinquency (part 2)
(a.). Features and dimensions of delinquent personality/ behavior
(b.). Principles underpinning social control.
(c.). Societal response to incidence of crime and deviance.
Week three
Establishing the basis of social control in human society
Social control theories: Containment theory—Walter Reckless.
Module 2
IINTER-DISCIPLINARY THEORIES OF CRIME
Week four
Psychological Theories of Crime
(a.). Psychoanalytic theory
Week five
Biological Theories of Crime
(a.). Modern Biocriminology, Genetics and criminality
(b.). Biochemical and Neurophysiological factors.
Module 3
Week six
SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES OF CRIME AND DELINQUENCY
Structural-functionalist perspectives:
Strain and cultural deviance theories: Theory of anomie—R.K. Merton
Week seven
Differential Association Theory—Edwin Sutherland
Week eight
Sub-cultural theories of delinquency:
Differential opportunity theory—Cloward and Ohlin,
Week nine
Interactionist Perspective
Labeling Theory—Edwin Lemert
Module IV
Treatment of Offenders:
Week ten
Enforcing the Law:
(a.). Police and the community.
(b.). Abuse of discretion
(c.). Law enforcement and corruption.
Week Eleven
Courts, Determinants of court sentencing and argument against capital punishment.
Module V
Processing the Offender and the Challenge of Recidivism
Week Twelve
Correction and society:
(a.). Types and reasons for Incarceration
(b.). Prison Culture and Society
(c.). Community Alternatives
Week Thirteen
Revision
Tutorials
Collaborative tutorial model that is in line with Covenant University policy subsists in this
regard. Students driven tutorial period in halls of residence will be supported by lecturer’s input
at different intervals during the semester.
Structure of the Programme/Methods of Grading
The structural component of the course consists of a theoretical examination of topics presented
in a modular form as provided in the course outline.
 Continuous Assessment
Student’s evaluation will be guided by routine assessment of student’s performance in class midsemester test, impromptu test and assignments.
First, students are expected to have their mid-semester test to be graded over 15marks.
Second, an impromptu test is expected to follow the mid-semester which will carry 5 marks and
finally, class assignment will be given at the expiration of 8th week of lectures which is to be
graded over 10 marks.
 Examination
Alpha semester examination will be graded over 70marks
Ground Rules and Regulations
Student’s effective participation in class discussions is of vital importance especially during
lectures. This will help measure students understanding of the course and as well create standard
for individual evaluation. Expectedly, students are to engage in private studies on various
modules, be punctual and observe university code of conduct during lectures.
Topics for Term Papers/Assignments/Students activities
Term paper for the course will be determined as lecture progresses and in line with the
philosophy of problem based learning. .
Alignment with Covenant University Vision/Goals
Sociology of crime and delinquency I is one of the courses under the department of sociology
structured to equip Covenant University graduates with the requisite intellectual leadership in
criminology and social problems analytic research. As a foundational course in the field of crime
and contemporary social problems, the course attempts to develop students on the modalities of
identifying, gathering and disseminating a far reaching solutions to myriads of crime and other
social vices especially in Africa and beyond.
Contemporary issues/Industry relevance
The magnitude of crime related activities among youth and other segment of the population have
continued to be of major concern to policy makers and stakeholders in most Third World nations.
The persistent dwindling economic fortune, leadership problem, evolving culture of terrorism
and increasingly depreciating standard of living, function to foster climate of insecurity for both
life and property. In this regard, the need to practically assuage the populace of attendant fear
and consequences of crime in our rapidly changing world becomes a pivotal role of new
generation of leaders and hence the direction of thought underpinning the collection of topics
under the current course.
Recommended Reading/Text
Adler, F. Gerhard O.W.M. and William S. L. (2004), Criminology and the
Criminal justice system fifth edition. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies Inc
Lilly, J. R., Cullen, T. F. and Ball, A. R. (2002), Criminological Theory:
Context and Consequences. London: Sage Publications, Inc.
John M. (2001), Sociology Eight Edition. New Jersey, USA: Prentice Hall Inc.
Patrick E. I., Benjamin A. O. and Omoruyi O. O. (2003), Law and
Social Policy Legislation and Administration in Nigeria. Lagos: Ababa Press
Limited
.
Haralambos, M., Holborn M. and Herald, R (2000), Sociology: Themes and
Perspectives, London: Harper Collin publishers.
Muncie, J. (2004), Youth and Crime Second Edition London: Sage Publications Ltd.
Robert M. B. and Keith H. H. (2005), Introduction to Criminal Justice 4th (Ed.)
New York: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Sheila B. (2002), Understanding Youth and Crime: Listening to Youth? London: Open
University Press
Reid, S. T. (2003) Crime and Criminology, Tenth Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies,
Inc.
McLaughlin, E., Muncie, J. and Hughes, G. (EDS.) (2003) Criminological Perspectives:
Essential Readings Second Edition. London: Sage Publications Ltd
Jewkes, Y. and Letherby, G. (2002) Criminology: A Reader. London: Sage Publications Ltd