05/27/2017 Criminology

Assignment 1: Biological Theory

The concept of race has been treated as both a biological and a social construct in criminological theory. In research, it is a commonly used demographic variable. As you read through research articles, you will find many where race is used as one indication of a relationship.

Use the Argosy University online library resources to research and review peer-reviewed articles for the theoretical problems (issues) that have been raised with regard to identifying and measuring the implications of biology for crime.

As you read these articles, examine how biological concepts are identified and explored. Then, apply these concepts to a discussion on the role of biological theory in criminal justice policy making. For this discussion thread, you will focus specifically on the role of race in a biological explanation for crime.

Submission Details:

By Saturday, May 27, 2017, in 250 to 500 words, post to the Discussion Area a discussion on how criminal justice policies and practices are affected by biological explanations for criminal behavior.

Note: Include a reference page formatted in APA style that links back to your in-text citations and supports your recommendations.

By Wednesday, May 31, 2017, read and respond to at least two of your classmates' posts and engage in substantive dialogue. As you engage your classmates in discussion, you should read their posts and consider how you can add to their contributions. Indicate if you read something that substantiates what they wrote or you find conflicting evidence.

Discussion Grading Criteria and Rubric

All discussion assignments in this course will be graded using a rubric. This assignment is worth 40 points. Download the discussion rubric and carefully read it to understand the expectations.