Syllabus: Criminal Justice 539 Issues in Criminal Justice: Why is the Homicide Rate Declining?

John M. Hagedorn BSB 4050C 312-413-2472 huk@uic.edu

This class will be an examination of variation in homicide rates in the United States. It will look at all aspects and all types of homicide, and at theories of violence. The fundamental question the class will address is "why are US homicide rates declining?" At the final session of the class, students will present a one or two page paper arguing their informed opinion.

There are two required texts, Jim Short’s "Poverty, Ethnicity, and Violent Crime." and Martin Daly and Margo Wilson’s "Homicide." Guest lectures will supplement our study.

Students will choose an aspect of homicide to more throughly investigate, and present a 15 page paper to the class on their topic. Topics may include alchohol and homicide, domestic violence, infanticide, expressive vs. instrumental homicide, drug-related homicides, the culture of violence, homicides in the southern states, ethnicity and homicide, gangs and homicide, city or neighborhood variations in homicides, or another topic. The paper must 1/ explain what we know about the topic and present evidence of variation in related homicide rates, e.g. domestic homicides are on a long term decline; and 2/ Using a body of theory give an explanation, or competing explanations, for variation in homicide rates on your topic. The paper must include at least a page of references actually cited in the body of your paper. Formal papers are due two weeks before the end of class.

Weds August 26

Introduction to the Course. Discussion of historical variations in Homicide Rates. Discussion of paper topics.

Weds: Sept 2

Short Chapters 1- 5

Weds: Sept 9

Short Chapters 5-8

Pick topics for papers.

Weds: Sept 16

Martin and Daly Chapters 1-6

Weds: Sept 23

Martin and Daly: Chapters 7-12

Weds Sept 30

Michael Maltz:Understanding Homicide Graphically

Weds Oct 7

Darnell Hawkins: African Americans and Homicide

Weds: October 14

Paul Goldstein: Drug-Related Homicide

Weds October 21

Richard Block:The Chicago Homicide Data Set

Weds October 28

Seminary Coop Discussion of Social Disorganization Theory.

Weds: November 4

Presentation of papers? Guest lecture?

Weds November 11

Richard Barrett. Infanticide. JMH will be in Washington.

Weds Nov 18

Presentation of papers

Weds Nov 25:

Presentation of remaining papers Written papers due.

Nov 26-27 Thanksgiving Vacation

Weds Dec 2

Final Discussion: Why is the homicide rate declining? One/two page paper to be presented and handed in.