Assignment Overview: Answer all three questions/parts in paragraph form. Question/Part three scenario contains three questions.
Search the Internet and research a problem-solving court (i.e. drug court, veterans court, teen court, re-entry court or homeless court). Discuss at least one criminological theory that serves as a foundation for the specialty court you selected? (SLO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6)
Does music, TV shows and films that glorify drug usage, encourage youths to use drugs and/or engage in delinquent conduct? Should all images on TV of drugs and alcohol be banned? Discuss at least one criminological theory that justify your position. (SLO 1, 2, & 6)
Scenario 1: Marshall is a 24-year-old construction worker who lives at home with his mother. During the week, he goes to work on time, does his work, and comes home. Occasionally, he will go out with a group of coworkers on a Friday evening. He has one other secret. He burglarizes homes and garages in the neighboring communities, selling what he steals via the internet or at pawn shops two counties over.
This past weekend, he was arrested during a burglary when he entered a home where the homeowner was present. His mother had to mortgage her home to bail him out of jail. While driving him home, she started to berate him, stating that he has ended up “just like his father, a criminal” and that she will probably end up dying early due to the stress of having a criminal son.
Marshall was angry and blurted out that it was her fault, that this was the only life he knew because his father never taught him anything worthwhile. He said that his mother and father fought all the time, and the main subject of their fights was his constant drinking. Using scenario 1, answer the following three questions:
Do you think people are born criminals, or is it learned behavior, or other contributing factors that would have an effect? Discuss at least one criminological theory to explain and support your reasoning.
Are the statements from Marshall about responsibility only used to shift blame? Why or why not?
Select one criminological theory from the text and apply it to Marshall’s situation.
Deliverables: A three–four page double-spaced paper. A minimum of three full pages is required with a last separate page for the citation of sources.
