Topics

Over the course of my educational career, there have been many topics related to criminal justice that have been explored, all of which I’ve gained a greater appreciation for. Some of the topics covered thus far include the following:

·         Types and classifications of offenders as defined by law

·         Types of crime as defined by law

·         The relationship between sociology and criminology

·         How classical and positivist schools of thought have influenced criminal justice practices

·         How biological and psychological theories have influenced criminal justice practices

·         How sociological theories have influenced criminal justice practices

·         How critical and interactionist theories may explain criminal behavior and influence the criminal justice system

·         How criminal justice professionals utilize criminological theories

·         How cultural views and values drive human behavior

·         The importance of applying theory versus making broad generalizations to explain behavior

·         The role of ethics in the application of theory

·         The correlation between criminal behavior theory and criminal justice practice

·         The importance of integrating biological, sociological, and environmental factors in an effort to explain criminal behavior

Research Questions

From these topics, I’ve developed some research questions I’d like to explore further. These research questions are as follows:

1.      What is the most effective way to apply criminological theories in corrections facilities to reduce recidivism?

2.      Do cultures with low crime rates have differing values, or can the scarce crime be attributed to different laws?

3.      How can the use of sociology help reduce crime in under-developed nations?