Assignment:
• I recommend that you outline your answers before writing them to make sure you develop well-organized, thorough answers.
• Answers should be organized in the following manner:
o an introduction with a thesis statement that outlines the main arguments
o body paragraphs that include supporting evidence from the readings
o a conclusion which briefly summarizes the main arguments
• Answers should be approximately 2.5 pages each. All answers must be typed, 12 point Times New Roman font with 1 inch margins and follow APA style for in text citations.
Samuel Walker Book: Sense and Nonsense about Crime, Drugs and Communities
Essay Questions:
Students must answer questions 1, 2, 3 and 4. According to Walker, most crime control ideas rest on faith rather than facts, including false assumptions about crime and how the CJ system works. Present a detailed discussion about this. Make sure you provide examples and highlight how ideological assumptions about how the CJ system works differ from reality.
1) Walker illustrates the disconnect between policy formation and implementation, providing explanations and examples of this disconnect. Discuss why policies are not implemented in the way they are intended, as well as other implementation issues (i.e., unintended consequences). Be sure to discuss the role of CJ actor discretion, including the courtroom workgroup.
2) Discuss the gun problem in the United States and the policies intended to address it. Be sure to clearly describe the problem, specific policies and their effectiveness, and the challenges associated with reducing gun crime.
3) Discuss the conservative approach to crime control in detail. Is it effective? Why or why not? What are some of the associated implementation issues?