Grand Canyon University Developmental Theories of Crime Paper
Developmental Theories of Crime Assignment Instructions
Instructions
1) Write a paper of 500-750 words
2) Analyze life course offenders using developmental theories of crime by doing the following:
a) Find an example of a person who is or was a life course offender – i.e. someone with a very long criminal history, serial killers, etc. (Content 1)
b) Determine if the criminal’s persistent offending can be explained using life course, latent trait, and trajectory theories (Content 1),
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d) Explain which of the three theories best account for this criminal’s persistent offending (Content 2).
e) Use the GCU Library to locate three to five relevant sources in support of your content, no older than 5 years.
f) Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the GCU Style Guide.
Rubric
• Content 1: 40%
• Content 2: 25%
• 3 to 5 Citations: 15%
• Paragraph Development and Transitions: 8%
• Mechanics: 9%
• Paper Formatting: 1%
• Citations: 2%
Required Sub-Headings
Selected Offender
– Find an example of a person who is or was a life course offender – i.e. someone with a very long criminal history, serial killers, etc., determine if their offenses can be explained through life course, latent trait and trajectory theory.
Applied Criminology Theory
– Explain which of the three theories best account for this criminal’s persistent offending.
Potential Citations
Allely, C. S., Minnis, H., Thompson, L., Wilson, P., & Gillberg, C. (2014). Neurodevelopmental and psychosocial risk factors in serial killers and mass murderers. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 19(3), 288–301.
https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.avb.2…
Culhane, S. E., Hilstad, S. M., Freng, A., & Gray, M. J. (2011). Self‐reported psychopathology in a convicted ferial killer. Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling, 8(1), 1–21.
https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1002/jip.129
DeLisi, M., Fox, B. H., Fully, M., & Vaughn, M. G. (2018). The effects of temperament, psychopathy, and childhood trauma among delinquent youth: A test of DeLisi and Vaughn’s temperament-based theory of crime. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 57, 53–60.
https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.ijlp….
Farrell, A. L., Keppel, R. D., & Titterington, V. B. (2013). Testing Existing Classifications of Serial Murder Considering Gender: An Exploratory Analysis of Solo Female Serial Murderers. Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling, (3), 268. Retrieved from https://lopes.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://search…
Harrison, M. A., Murphy, E. A., Ho, L. Y., Bowers, T. G., & Flaherty, C. V. (n.d.). Female serial killers in the United States: means, motives, and makings. JOURNAL OF FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY & PSYCHOLOGY, 26(3), 383–406.
https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/1478994…
Mark Hansen. (2006). How the Cops Caught BTK: Playing to a Serial Killer’s Ego Helped Crack the Case. ABA Journal, (4), 44. Retrieved from https://lopes.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://search…
Miller, L. (n.d.). Serial killers: I. Subtypes, patterns, and motives. AGGRESSION AND VIOLENT BEHAVIOR, 19(1), 1–11.
https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.avb.2…
Reid, S. (n.d.). Developmental pathways to serial homicide: A critical review of the biological literature. AGGRESSION AND VIOLENT BEHAVIOR, 35, 52–61.
https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.avb.2…
Miscellaneous
– You are not required to have a cover page.
– Do not write an introduction or conclusion. Also, do not write an abstract.
– Always page break the reference page.
– Do you use apostrophe words like shouldn’t, couldn’t, etc. These words are considered informal and should not be used in an academic paper. Write out should not, could not, etc. Equals more word count too.
– Never write in the 1st person in an academic paper unless the instructions tell you to do so. These instructions do not.
– Don’t share your feelings. Academic papers are about research and analysis, not about nebulous feelings and emotions.
– If you have a sub-heading, you should have a citation to support that sub-heading.
– Always define your subject. Here, the subject is developmental theories. Define the subject with a citation. Remember that also eats up word count.