DISCUSSION QUESTION 1-1

MJ620 Criminology

Lesson 1: Introduction to Criminology;
Where Do Theories Come From?

Upon completion of the Required Readings, write a thorough, well-planned narrative answer to the following discussion question. Rely on your Required Readings and the Lecture and Research Update for specific information to answer the discussion question, but turn to your original thoughts when asked to apply, evaluate, analyze, or synthesize the information. Your Discussion Question response should be both grammatically and mechanically correct, and formatted in the same fashion as the question itself. If there is a Part A, your response should identify a Part A, etc. In addition, you must appropriately cite all resources used in your responses and document in a bibliography using APA style.

(Two Discussion Questions – 100 points)

Discussion Question 1 (50 points)

To answer this discussion question, you will need to log onto the following websites:

http://www2.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2009/about/offense_definitions.html;

http://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=dcdetail&iid=245; and

http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/icpsrweb/NACJD/NIBRS/.

Then answer the questions below.

a.Describe the crimes the FBI identifies as Part I offenses. How does the FBI obtain this information?

b.How does the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) obtain its data?

c.How does National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) collect its data? Is the data collected more inclusive or more restrictive than the FBI Part I offenses?

d.What potential problems do you believe might result with the gathering techniques used by the FBI and/or the National Crime Victimization Survey? Does one seem more likely to be accurate than the other? If you believe so, explain your reasoning.

(50 points) (A 2-page response is required.)