Part 1: Critical Thinking in Criminal Justice

Assignment

Answer the following questions:

4.1: What is a theory? Why is it important to understand the various theories of criminal behavior?

4.2 Research Cesare Beccaria's theory on crime: Name four of the ways that classical criminologist Cesare Beccaria thought were best to prevent or deter crime. Do you agree with Beccaria? Why or why not?

4.3 Research the "Positivist School of Thought" related to crime: What are the five key assumptions of the positivist school of thought?

4.4 Research the "Labeling Theory of Crime." How would you explain labeling theory. Do you agree with this theory, why or why not?

4.5 Based on what you have read in this assignment, Develop a theory of crime. Name it. List three things to support your theory of crime.

Part 2: Applying Critical Thinking

Question 4.2:

Go through the 8 elements, does your paragraph answer each element? If so state the answer next to each element, if not, state what you could have said to comply with answering the elements.

Identify the Eight Elements:

Purpose:

Questions:

Points of View:

Information:

Inferences:

Concepts:

Implications:

Assumptions:

Apply the Standards to the Elements: Use your handout to answer the questions related to the elements:

Go through the 10 standards, does your paragraph answer each element? If so state the answer next to each element, if not, state what you could have said to comply with answering the elements.

Clarity

Accuracy

Relevance

Logicalness

Breadth

Precision

Significance

Completeness

Fairness

Depth