Chapter 3: "Defining and Measuring Crime" Summary

The beggining of the chapter explained the story and motives of the Virginia Tech and Columbine High shooters. All three of themseemed to be either outcasts, loners, or with a history of mental instability. They all were picked on and they preplaned their actions.How should you measure and define crimes such as these ones? Some of the things I've learned in this chapter are the three general types of crime. The first crime is where homicide, rape, robbery,and assualt fall under. it is because these involve the use of physical force, it falls under "Crimes against persons". the next type are"Crimes against property". Here property is taken misused and unlawfully. Examples include larceny, arson, burglary, and vandalism.last types are alcohol, drugs, weapon offenses, prositution, and gambling related crimes that distrupts the peace in a civil society.this type is called "Crimes against public order". All three types/ or categories continue to be the majority of arrests in Americatoday. One thing I learned too in this chapter is that murder is a "Intentional felonie" where manslaughter is a mitigated murder where a deathis caused recklessly. Finally, The chapter has a section that has what the offenders have to say for themseleves and the future predictionof crime in the United States as well as alot of statistics that back it up. I have to say that this chapter gave me a better prospectsagainst sick/evil people!

Chapter 2: "The Nature and Causes of Crime" Summary

The chapter is about defining deviance and what causes the continual violation of acceptable conduct. In easiest terms, Deviance is a violation of a social norm (rules that develop in society). these norms have social expectations by society of what aappropriate behavior is. Two other vocabularies I learned both in the book and in class are the two types of common law ofhow crime is viewed: Mala in se, which are acts that are evil in themseleves (mostly done intentionally with examples such asrape, robbery, murder, and burglary) and Mala Prohibita which acts are considered undesirable although not inherently evil, whichare the results of legislative decisions to block certain behaviors such as alcohol and drug use, as well as gambling. Anyways, the"Media and Criminal Justice" feature was about illegal MP3 and pirated song downloading and selling. The example of a company wasShawn Fanning's Napter. I found the feature intresting because just about everyone here on Guam knows that Limewire too is a popularMp3 downloader and that its actually illegal to a point. What I found unfair though, is that in 2003 the government hunted downand sued individuals rather than company owners for illegal downloading. I understand its a tatic that can raise public awarenessbut they should keep in mind that its not fair for the other thousands or millions that just got away with it. I believe judgementshould be passed down equally you know? Anyways, if the government were so concern, why is Limewire still around? why don't they justmake music downloading illegal and just shutdown companies like Limewire.

Chapter 1: "Perspectives on Criminal Justice" Summary

The Chapter opens up with the "Media and Criminal Justice" feature about random acts of violence and criminal omissions that arereported everyday in America in just about every newspaper company. From reports of thefts and robberies, to assualt, homicidesand murder. The question in this chapter is, "How concerned about crime should we be"?! During the 1960's, Presidents Kennedy and Johnson failed to raise awareness on crime until Johnson was convinced by Senator Barry Goldwater for the importance of the public's awareness as far as crime. So, Since the 1960s, the public started to be more concernwith crime. Another thing is that the fear of crime leads many people to give up what they love or enjoy doing, making them moreworried about their state with wherever they go or even at night. I also learned that Crime is not just forms of conduct that societyand its lawmakers prohibits to maintain order, but that its a natural phenomenon because everyone have different motivations, viruteand way of thinking. Important lesson learned in class was that "There are really good people and evil people in this world". Remember, everyones different! Also, as a future law enforcer, keep in mind that you are going to deal with the evil people everydayand you will need "Tough" skin in order to deal with their issues!

Introduction!

"Criminal Justice" Fourth Edition

By: Jay S. Albanese

-Virginia Commonwealth University

This is the book that we are using for our LW101 class here at the University Of Guam which is taught by the way, by Dr. Ron McNinch.

My view of the book:

I found this book to be quite intresting because of its features and the organization of the book itself is all laid out tothe point where its easy to understand complex ideas and critical thinking. There are also web links for further study locatedin the student resources section of the preface of the book. What I like best about the book is that in the beginning of everychapter has an illustrated "Media and Criminal Justice" feature that highlights examples of criminal justice issues found intelevision, films, and popular culture. also, at the end of the feature, questions or reflections are asked for the student torespond. Finally, there is a "That's a Fact" feature located in every chapter that tells an intresting concise and interactive fact, data,or useful information thats broken down so that it could be easily understood. I believe this fits great in our Introto Criminal Justice class, and it should be reused again by our instructor for the following semester.