Answer 3

EQ: What is the most common reason people commit crimes?

Answer 3: People who abuse substances (legal and illegal) are more likely to commit crimes than non-users.

Evidence: Illegal drug users were 16x more liekely than non-users to get arrested for larceny/theft (1999).
Illegal drug users were 9x more liekly arrested for assault in 2000.
Alcohol is likely to be a factor in 2/3 of violent crimes where the victim knew their attacker.

Sources: The Saratogian, "Alcoholism Series"-  http://www.saratogian.com/articles/2011/03/13/news/doc4d7d929027273529757051.txt
The National Center for Victims of Crime, "Drug Related Crime"- http://www.ncvc.org/ncvc/main.aspx?dbName=DocumentViewer&DocumentID=32348
About.com, "Crime and Alcohol"- http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/costs/a/aa980415.htm

Answer 2

EQ: WHAT IS THE MOST COMMON REASON PEOPLE COMMIT CRIMES?

ANSWER 2:  People with mental disorders are more likely to commit crimes.

EVIDENCE:  Mentall illness symptoms impair judgement and can violate social norms. 
In 2006, the number of mentally ill inmates in U.S. prisons and jails have quadrupled since 2000- from 283,000 inmates to 1.25 million. 
Americans with severe mental illnesses are three times more likely to be in jail or prison than in a psychiatric hospital.

SOURCES: "Psychiatric Illness Associated With Criminality", Michael Menaster, MD, MA
"More Mentally Ill Persons Are in Jails and Prisons Than Hospitals", Partnership for Safety and Justice
Straight Talk about Criminals: Understanding and Treating Antisocial Individuals- "“Biological/Genetic Contributions to Criminality Need Not Preordain Incarceration”, Stanton E. Samenow

Presentation Reflection

1.  During my first interview, I received several different definitons of "criminology".  In my presentation, one of my steps included explaining what criminology is.  I used two of the definitions given to me- Criminology is..."the study of crime and how it affects society" and "how crime occurs, what is causing it, and how to prevent it."
2.  I think what stood out to me during my presentation was my method of "Checking for Understanding".  Instead of asking specific questions about my presentation like everyone else did, I did an interactive game that helped fulfill my objective.
3.  The most challenging part of my 5 minute was trying to fit all my information into the allotted time.  I felt like I had to much to say in too little time.

5-Minute Presentation: Rough Draft

Objective:  To explain the difference between Criminology and Crime Scene Investigation (Forensic Science).

Procedure:  Intro (1) Ask if people know the difference between Criminology and CSI.

                  (2) Explain Criminology.

                  (3) Explain CSI.

                  (4) Point out major differences.

                  (5) Explain which jobs Criminology leads to.

                  (6) Summarize key points.

Check for Understanding:  Ask students to tell me which aspects I’ve explained are under Criminology and which are under CSI while I fill in a diagram/chart.

Resources/Materials:  Poster board or white board- used for “check for understanding”.

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