Family Questions on Crime Types' Reports for the Final Exam

Below are the questions from the families, as promised. But you will note that I have done some editing. Also, some of you asked questions based more on my follow-up comments than your reports. You should have focused just on your reports. Finally, I probably should have asked you to come up with more than two questions so I could have selected two good ones from several, but I didn't, which is "my bad," I guess. Nonetheless, here they are:

Green Family: Chapter 2: Homicide and Assault

1. What types of murders does Cooney say constitute the majority of murders, as Dabney brings out in the Introduction to this chapter? (1)

ANSWER: Moralistic murders with expressive motives that are committed by novices in the heat of the moment. That is, "crimes of passion."

2. Identify and briefly describe ONE of the six possible rationalization frameworks battered women use to rationalize the behavior of their abusers. (2)

ANSWER: Any ONE of the following:
(1) appeal to the salvation ethic -- the woman feels the need to save the abuser.
(2) denial of the victimizer -- the woman sees the battering as an outside force beyond the control of their spouse and think it can be cured.
(3) denial of injury -- the experience is so out of sync with their expectations that they refuse to even acknowledge they've been hurt.
(4) denial of victimization -- the woman blames herself for the violence.
(5) denial of options -- referring to both practical and emotional options, the woman refuses to believe she has any other option than to stay with the abuser. Eg. that even a life being battered is better than being lonely and alone.
(6) appeal to higher loyalties -- the woman endures the abuse for the sake of a higher commitment, either religious or traditional.


Blue Family: Chapter 3: Violent Sex Crimes (Two family members submitted questions, so I simply selected the best two, which I also modified somewhat because most of the questions reflected my follow-up comments.)

1. Among the theories of rape mentioned in the Introduction to this chapter is the "gender inequality theory." Briefly describe this theory. (2)

ANSWER: "that rape and fear of rape enable men to assert their power over women and maintain the existing system of gender stratification (or inequality)." Rape is associated with strong patriarchal societies.

2. In the context of selection #8, "Understanding Women's Experiences of Wife Rape," what did I suggest in my follow-up comments was the "bottom line" with respect to preventing this type of rape especially? (1)

ANSWER: That men should be taught NOT to treat women as mere sex objects, even if they happen to be their wives.


Yellow family: Chapter 4: Robbery

1. How does robbery typically differ from other violent crimes such as murder, assault, and rape? (2)

ANSWER: In the case of robbery, the offender typically does NOT know the victim, as opposed to other violent crimes where there is often a previous relationship between the victim and the offender.

2. Identify ONE other possible motive, besides money, a robber may have. (1)

ANSWER: Any ONE of the capitalized terms: Expressive motives such as REVENGE, or a quest for EXCITEMENT and SENSORY STIMULATION.


Black family: Chapter 5: Burglary

1. In the context of Chapter 5 on burglary and the discussion of the "stolen property system," briefly describe the role of the "fence." (2)

ANSWER: The role of the fence is to receive the goods which have been stolen and then attempt to sell them. He is essentially the "middle man" who specializes in buying and selling stolen goods which is indispensable for burglars.

2. Seasoned professional burglars engage in "search planning" in which they often rely on what type of information? (1)

ANSWER: A "tipster" who informs them of the suitability of various targets.


Red family: Chapter 7: Public Order Crime

1. Identify any TWO of the six "contingent elements of the prostitute's identity," as discussed in selection # 18, "An Analysis of Women's Involvement in Prostitution." (2)

ANSWER: Any TWO of the following:
(1) prostitutes-as-workers
(2) prostitutes-as-commodified bodies
(3) prostitutes-as-business-women
(4) prostitutes-as-loving-partners
(5) prostitutes-as-victims
(6) prostitutes-as-survivors

2. Briefly describe the "residence house" as one of the most common forms of crack houses in the Miami area. (1)

ANSWER: Residence houses are private homes where the owner welcomes in partiers for extended drug and sex fests.

_________________________________________

Finally, a quick reminder for tomorrow's class (Tues. 11/11) that your essays on "A Hard Straight" are due. If for some reason you have not seen it yet, remember it is available on reserve in the library.