What causes crime? This question has challenged society for some time and continues to be a subject of investigation across many disciplines. Are there different causes for different types of crime? There are those who express violent and unimaginable criminal behaviors, and others who are more likely to participate in low-level, passive types of crime. In attempting to account for the motivations for these crimes, many explanations have relied more on speculation than on scientific evidence. As a student of evidence-based approaches to the crime problem, however, understanding causes of crime is the first step toward finding and implementing solutions to crime that have been proven effective. Therefore, in this Discussion you will examine the research for evidence on both sides of the nature vs. nurture causes of crime debate.

To Prepare:

Examine the Learning Resources, focusing on theories that attempt to explain causes of crime. Use the Walden Library to locate other academic sources that explore causes of crime. 

Provide a brief summary of the research you examined. Which side of the nature/nurture argument has more empirical support?


Learning Resources:

Database: Bureau of Justice Statistics. (n.d.). Data collection: National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). Retrieved March 5, 2018, from https://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=dcdetail&iid=245

Note: You will use this resource as part of the Assignment in Week 3.

 Database: Federal Bureau of Investigation. (n.d.). Uniform Crime Reporting. Retrieved March 5, 2018, from https://ucr.fbi.gov/

Note: You will use this resource as part of the Assignment in Week 3.

 Krajicek, D. J. (2014, March 31). Can we trust crime numbers? The Crime Report. Retrieved from https://thecrimereport.org/2014/03/31/2014-03-can-we-trust-crime-numbers/ 

 Patten, D. J. (2015). An unfinished journey: The evolution of crime measurement in the United States. The Hilltop Review, 8(1). Retrieved from http://scholarworks.wmich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1149&context=hilltopreview 

 Planty, M., Langton, L., & Barnett-Ryan, C. (2014). The nation’s two crime measures. Bureau Justice Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/ntcm_2014.pdf

 Walsh, A., & Jorgensen, C. (2017). Criminology: The essentials (3rd ed.). Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.

Chapter 6, “Social Structural Theories,” pp. 100–120 

Criminology: The Essentials, 3rd Edition by Walsh, A.; Jorgensen, C. Copyright 2017 by Sage College. Reprinted by permission of Sage College via the Copyright Clearance Center.

 Walsh, A., & Jorgensen, C. (2017). Criminology: The essentials (3rd ed.). Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.

Chapter 10, “Biosocial Approaches,” pp. 182–202 

Criminology: The Essentials, 3rd Edition by Walsh, A.; Jorgensen, C. Copyright 2017 by Sage College. Reprinted by permission of Sage College via the Copyright Clearance Center.

 Walsh, A., & Jorgensen, C. (2017). Criminology: The essentials (3rd ed.). Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.

Chapter 11, “Developmental Theories: From Delinquency to Crime to Desistance” pp. 203–222

Criminology: The Essentials, 3rd Edition by Walsh, A.; Jorgensen, C. Copyright 2017 by Sage College. Reprinted by permission of Sage College via the Copyright Clearance Center.

 Rubio, J. S., Krieger, M. A., Finney, E. J., & Coker, K. L. (2014). A review of the relationship between sociocultural factors and juvenile psychopathy. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 19(1), 23–31.

Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

 Criminal Justice Research. (n.d.). Ethnic differences in psychopathy. Retrieved from http://criminal-justice.iresearchnet.com/forensic-psychology/ethnic-differences-in-psychopathy/

 Fox, B. (2017).?It's nature and nurture: Integrating biology and genetics into the social learning theory of criminal behavior.?Journal of Criminal Justice, 49(1), 22–31.

Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

Rocque, M., & Posick, C. (2017). Paradigm shift or normal science? The future of (biosocial) criminology. Theoretical Criminology, 21(3) 288–303.

Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

 Palmer, B. (2013, March 8). Is criminality genetic??The family that preys together…. Retrieved from?http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/explainer/2013/03/osama_bin_laden_son_in_law_does_criminality_run_in_families.html

 Document: Week 3 Template (Word document)

Required Media
 TED. (2013, October). Why smart statistics are the key to fighting crime [Video]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/anne_milgram_why_smart_statistics_are_the_key_to_fighting_crime

Please use the Learning Resorces