CRCJ1000 - Introduction to Criminology & Criminal Justice

Carleton University
Winter 2013

CARLETON UNIVERSITY
INSTITUTE OF CRIMINOLOGY & CRIMINAL JUSTICE

CRCJ1000 - Introduction to Criminology & Criminal Justice

Syllabus - Winter 2013

Professor Nicolas Carrier

C567 Loeb
e. [email protected]
t. 613.520.2600 x.1237

Teaching Assistant:
Jared McIsaac
e. [email protected]
Office Hours: TBA

I. Content

What is criminology? Definitions are plural and contested. One way to organize the variety of criminologies is
through the foundational questions to which they try to provide satisfactory answers. How should we understand or
explain: a) the creation and modification of penal norms?; b) the transgression of penal norms?; c) the ways in which
penal norms are used?
*
Among the reasons that can help explain why there is no consensus about the definition of criminology is the fact
that there is also no consensus about what crime is. Reasons that can be invoked to treat something as a crime are
multiple, and sometimes conflicting. In the context of contemporary liberal democracies, the right to use criminal law
is subjected to various limits. When criminal law is used to assert that this or that is a crime, it works through the
utterance of a threat: if you do this or that, you shall be punished like this or like that. Why do we punish? How do
we punish?
*
What do we know about crime? Crime data is today more refined, yet statistics gathered from different
methodological strategies have various limitations. What do the official, police-reported, criminal statistics suggest?
What do surveys on victimization suggest? What do self-report surveys suggest?
*
How should we explain crime? Is it the result of a more or less rational choice? Are criminals biologically different?
Are they stupid? Can we talk of a criminal personality? Should we go beyond individualizing factors to explain why
certain individuals are criminals? Are criminals the products of social forces? Should we simply abandon the quest to
find the causes of crime, and instead focus on understanding how certain individuals are said to be criminals and

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CRCJ1000 - Introduction to Criminology & Criminal Justice
Carleton University
Winter 2013

treated as such, while others are not? Are criminalization and punishment tools of powerful groups used to maintain
various forms of privileges and inequalities?
*
Why do we think that the legitimate infliction of pain - punishment - is the proper way to do justice to criminalized
acts? Should criminology promote a move beyond criminal justice?

II. Objectives

After successfully completing this course, students:

a) are able to understand and use basic criminological concepts;
b) have a general understanding of the ways in which the right to criminalize and to punish is legitimized;
c) have a general understanding of contemporary tendencies in the use of criminalization;
d) have a general understanding of penological rationales and penal measures;
e) are able to understand the basic elements of the main criminological traditions and perspectives;
f) have begun to think critically about knowledge and practices related to criminology and criminal justice.

III. Material

Most of the mandatory readings are taken from:

Newburn, T. (2007). Criminology, Cullompton: Willan Publishing, ISBN: 978-1-84392-284-1.
The book can be purchased at Octopus Books (Third Avenue, just off Bank St., Ottawa).

All other mandatory readings are electronically available without costs (see section V. below for details).

IV. Evaluation

A- Mid-Term Examination (40%)

During the lecture hours of week 6.

Based on the content of all lectures and mandatory readings from week 1 to 5.
Closed-book format (only pencils and erasers allowed - and I do not provide them!).
Includes: true/false questions, multiple choice questions, short-answers questions.
Must be completed in 3 hours.

B- Final Examination (60%)

During the final exam period.

Based on the content of all lectures and mandatory readings.

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CRCJ1000 - Introduction to Criminology & Criminal Justice
Carleton University
Winter 2013

Closed-book format (only pencils and erasers allowed - and I do not provide them!).
Includes: true/false questions, multiple choice questions, short-answers questions.
Must be completed in 3 hours.

V. Detailed Schedule

WEEK 1: INTRODUCTION
Crime, Criminals, Criminalization

WEEK 2: CRIME AS AN OBJECT OF STUDY

Malum in se/Malum Prohibitum; Crime as Deviance; Crime as Laws Product; Liberty Limiting Principles
Mandatory Readings:
Newburn, T. (2007). Chapter One. Understanding Crime and Criminology, in Newburn, T., Criminology,
Cullompton: Willan Publishing; excerpt: 1-15.
Brodeur, J.-P. and I. Ouellet (2004). What Is a Crime? A Secular Answer, in Law Commission of Canada, What Is
a Crime? Defining Criminal Conduct in Contemporary Society, Vancouver: UBC Press; excerpts: 1-17;
27-33 [online: http://www.ubcpress.ca/books/pdf/chapters/whatisacrime/whatcrime.pdf]

WEEK 3: SOVEREIGN POWER

The Formation of the Idea of Criminal Justice; The Formation of Modern Policing; The Right to Punish; The
Limits of Criminal Law; Sovereign Exceptionality
Mandatory Readings:
Newburn, T. (2007). Chapter 2. Crime and Punishment in History, in Newburn, T., Criminology, Cullompton:
Willan Publishing, 22-47.
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom [http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/charter/CHART_E.PDF]

WEEK 4: COUNTING CRIME

Victimization Surveys; The Construction of Official Statistics; Police-Reported Crimes; Clearance Rates; Court
Statistics; Self-Report Surveys
Mandatory Readings:
Statistics Canada - Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics (2009). Measuring Crime in Canada. Introducing the
Crime Severity Index and Improvements to the Uniform Crime Report Survey, Ottawa: Minister of
Industry [online: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-004-x/85-004-x2009001-eng.pdf]
Statistics Canada (2010). Police-Reported Crime Statistics in Canada, 2011, Juristat, catalogue 85-002-x [online:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-002-x/2012001/article/11692-eng.pdf]
Newburn, T. (2007). Chapter 3. Crime Data and Crime Trends, in Newburn, T., Criminology, Cullompton:
Willan Publishing, excerpts: 50-61; 67; 76-79.

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CRCJ1000 - Introduction to Criminology & Criminal Justice
Carleton University
Winter 2013

WEEK 5: PUNISHMENT
Historical Perspectives; Penological Rationales; Penal Measures; Conditional Release
Mandatory Readings:
Newburn, T. (2007). Chapter 22. Penology and Punishment, in Newburn, T., Criminology, Cullompton: Willan
Publishing, 516-538.
Barnett, L., Dupuis, T., Kirkby, C., MacKay, R., Nicol, J., and J. Bchard (2012). Legislative Summary. Bill C-10:
An Act to Enact the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act and to Amend the State Immunity Act, the
Criminal Code, the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act, the Corrections and Conditional Release Act,
the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Other Acts , Ottawa:
Library of Parliament; excerpts: 26-27; 43-50; 59-63; 67-71; 73-79 [online:
http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/LOP/LegislativeSummaries/41/1/c10-e.pdf]

WEEK 6: MID-TERM EXAMINATION

WEEK 7: CLASSICAL & NEO-CLASSICAL CRIMINOLOGY

Beccaria; Bentham; Right Realism; Contemporary Rational Choice Theory; Routine Activity Theory; Situational
Crime Prevention & Crime Science
Mandatory Readings:
Newburn, T. (2007). Chapter 5. Classicism and Positivism, in Newburn, T., Criminology, Cullompton: Willan
Publishing, excerpts: 114-120.
Newburn, T. (2007). Chapter 13. Realist Criminology, in Newburn, T., Criminology, Cullompton: Willan
Publishing, excerpts: 270-276.
Newburn, T. (2007). Chapter 14. Contemporary Classicism, in Newburn, T., Criminology, Cullompton: Willan
Publishing, 280-297.

WEEK 8: ETIOLOGICAL CRIMINOLOGY: BODY & PSYCHE

Physiognomy; Phrenology; Criminal Anthropology; Constitutional Theories; Eugenics and Stupidity Theories;
Contemporary Biocriminology; Psychodynamic Theories; Learning and Cognitive Theories; Psychometrics and
Psychopathy; The What Works Movement; Developmental Criminology; Evolutionary Psychology
Mandatory Readings:
Newburn, T. (2007). Chapter 5. Classicism and Positivism, in Newburn, T., Criminology, Cullompton: Willan
Publishing, excerpts: 120-129.
Newburn, T. (2007). Chapter 6. Biological Positivism, in Newburn, T., Criminology, Cullompton: Willan
Publishing, 132-144.
Newburn, T. (2007). Chapter 7. Psychological Positivism, in Newburn, T., Criminology, Cullompton: Willan
Publishing,148-166.

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CRCJ1000 - Introduction to Criminology & Criminal Justice
Carleton University
Winter 2013

WEEK 9: ETIOLOGICAL CRIMINOLOGY: ANOMIE, STRAIN, SUBCULTURES

Durkheim; Merton and Other Strain Theories; The Chicago School; Subcultural Theories; Cultural Criminology
Mandatory Readings:
Newburn, T. (2007). Chapter 8. Durkheim, Anomie and Strain, in Newburn, T., Criminology, Cullompton:
Willan Publishing, 170-185.
Newburn, T. (2007). Chapter 9. The Chicago School, Culture and Subcultures, in Newburn, T., Criminology,
Cullompton: Willan Publishing, 188-207.

WEEK 10: ETIOLOGICAL CRIMINOLOGY: CONTROL, LABELING

Control Theories; Symbolic Interactionism; Labeling and Stigmatization; Social Control; Social Problems;
Moral Panics
Mandatory Readings:
Newburn, T. (2007). Chapter 10. Interactionism and Labelling Theory, in Newburn, T., Criminology,
Cullompton: Willan Publishing, 210-224.
Newburn, T. (2007). Chapter 11. Control Theories, in Newburn, T., Criminology, Cullompton: Willan
Publishing, 228-242.

WEEK 11: CRITICAL CRIMINOLOGIES

The Conflict Perspective, Marxist Criminologies; Left Realism; Feminist Perspectives in Criminology; Anarchist
Criminologies
Mandatory Readings:
Newburn, T. (2007). Chapter 12. Radical and Critical Criminology, in Newburn, T., Criminology, Cullompton:
Willan Publishing, 246-260.
Newburn, T. (2007). Chapter 13. Realist Criminology, in Newburn, T., Criminology, Cullompton: Willan
Publishing, excerpts: 264-270.
Newburn, T. (2007). Chapter 15. Feminist Criminology, in Newburn, T., Criminology, Cullompton: Willan
Publishing, 300-317.

WEEK 12: BEYOND CRIMINAL JUSTICE?

Restorative Justice; Transformative Justice; Penal Minimalism; Carceral and Penal Abolitionism
Mandatory Readings:
Newburn, T. (2007). Chapter 30. Restorative Justice, in Newburn, T., Criminology, Cullompton: Willan
Publishing, 744-767.
Saleh-Hanna, V. (2000). Taking Too Much for Granted: Studying the Movement and Re-Assessing the Terms,
in West, W.G. and R. Morris (eds.), The Case for Penal Abolition, Toronto: Canadian Scholars Press, 43-67
[online: http://site.ebrary.com.proxy.library.carleton.ca/lib/oculcarleton/docDetail.action?docID=10220479]
* * * On ebrary.com, the title of this chapter appears as An Introduction to Penal Abolition: Assessing Penology
and Social Control * * *

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CRCJ1000 - Introduction to Criminology & Criminal Justice
Carleton University
Winter 2013

Academic Accommodation
You may need special arrangements to meet your academic obligations during the term. For an accommodation request
the processes are as follows:
Pregnancy obligation: write to me with any requests for academic accommodation during the first two weeks of class, or
as soon as possible after the need for accommodation is known to exist. For more details visit the Equity Services website:
http://www2.carleton.ca/equity/
Religious obligation: write to me with any requests for academic accommodation during the first two weeks of class, or as
soon as possible after the need for accommodation is known to exist. For more details visit the Equity Services website:
http://www2.carleton.ca/equity/
Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: The Paul Menton Centre for Students with Disabilities (PMC)
provides services to students with Learning Disabilities (LD), psychiatric/mental health disabilities, Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), chronic medical conditions, and impairments in mobility,
hearing, and vision. If you have a disability requiring academic accommodations in this course, please contact PMC at 613-
520-6608 or [email protected] for a formal evaluation. If you are already registered with the PMC, contact your PMC
coordinator to send me your Letter of Accommodation at the beginning of the term, and no later than two weeks before
the first in-class scheduled test or exam requiring accommodation (if applicable). After requesting accommodation from
PMC, meet with me to ensure accommodation arrangements are made. Please consult the PMC website for the deadline to
request accommodations for the formally-scheduled exam (if applicable) at http://www2.carleton.ca/pmc/new-and-
current-students/dates-and-deadlines/
You can visit the Equity Services website to view the policies and to obtain more detailed information on academic accommodation at
http://www2.carleton.ca/equity/
Plagiarism
Students are reminded of the University regulations concerning plagiarism and other instructional offenses as outlined in the
Undergraduate Calendar. The policy can be found at
http://www.carleton.ca/studentaffairs/academic_integrity/docs/Academic_Integrity _Policy.pdf
The University Senate defines plagiarism as presenting, whether intentionally or not, the idea, expression of ideas or work of others
as ones own. This can include:
-reproducing or paraphrasing portions of someone elses published or unpublished material, regardless of the source, and presenting
these as ones own without proper citation or reference to the original source;
-submitting a take-home examination, essay, laboratory report or other assignment written, in whole or in part, by someone else;
-using ideas or direct, verbatim quotations, or paraphrased material, concepts, or ideas without appropriate acknowledgement in any
academic assignment;
-using anothers data or research findings;
-failing to acknowledge sources through the use of proper citations when using anothers works and/or failing to use quotation marks;
-handing in substantially the same piece of work for academic credit more than once without prior written permission of the course
instructor in which the submission occurs.
Plagiarism is a serious offence which cannot be resolved directly with the courses instructor. The Associate Deans of the Faculty
conduct a rigorous investigation, including an interview with the student, when an instructor suspects a piece of work has been
plagiarized. Penalties are not trivial. They can include a final grade of F for the course.