NCJ Number
46301
Journal
Teaching Sociology Volume: 4 Issue: 2 Dated: (JANUARY 1977) Pages: 177-184
Date Published
1977
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE IMPORTANCE OF DIFFERENT THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES FOR EXAMINING THE CRIME PROBLEM IS EXPLORED THROUGH A SIMULATION GAME BEING UTILIZED BY EDUCATORS IN A MIDWESTERN CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAM.
Abstract
THIS TYPE OF STUDY METHOD IS NOT NEW; HOWEVER, ITS APPLICATION IN INTRODUCTORY COURSES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE, CRIMINOLOGY, AND SOCIAL DEVIANCE APPEARS TO GENERATE CREATIVITY AND ORIGINALITY ON THE PART OF PARTICIPATING STUDENTS. THE DEVICE ITSELF IS INTENDED TO SIMULATE A REAL-LIFE COMMUNITY SITUATION, WHERE AN URBAN COMMUNITY CRIME RATE AND PUBLIC CONCERN ABOUT CRIME HAVE RISEN SHARPLY. TO DEAL WITH THIS SITUATION, THE CITY COUNCIL AND FOUR COMMUNITY GROUPS MEET TO FORMULATE A POLICY. STUDENTS ASSUME THE ROLES OF THESE PARTICIPANTS, AND WHEN THE MODEL IS PROPERLY IMPLEMENTED, THEY WORK OUT BEHAVIOR AIMED AT SOLVING THE CRIME PROBLEM. TO INSURE THAT THE GAME IS AN AUTHENTIC REPLICA OF SOCIAL, POLITICAL, AND ECONOMIC PROCESSES, CERTAIN LIMITATIONS ARE BUILT INTO THE MODEL; FOR EXAMPLE, THE STUDENT PARTICIPANTS ARE INSTRUCTED TO TRY TO ASSUME THE VALUES OF THE SPECIFIC INTEREST GROUPS THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO REPRESENT, SUCH AS THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION. ALTHOUGH THE ACTUAL OPERATION OF THE MODEL CENTERS ON POLICYMAKING IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THE OVERALL GOALS ARE TO CREATE AN AWARENESS OF DIFFERENT THEORETICAL APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF CRIME AND TO FOSTER AN APPRECIATION OF THE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF THESE APPROACHES IN A REAL WORLD SETTING. WITH THE MORE THEORETICAL AND ABSTRACT PERSPECTIVES OPERATING AT THE GOAL LEVEL, THE GAME'S OBJECTIVE IS TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO THINK IN TERMS OF THE POTENTIALLY HIGH COSTS INVOLVED WHEN BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS ARE TRADED FOR ORDER. THE STUDENTS, NOT UNLIKE THOSE ACTUALLY INVOLVED IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, FIND THAT THE PREFERRED GOALS OF FREEDOM AND ORDER ARE OFTEN IN CONFLICT, AND IT BECOMES THE STUDENTS' RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE OBSERVATIONS AND FORMULATE PRACTICAL POLICIES TO MAINTAIN A BALANCE BETWEEN THE RIGHTS OF THOSE ACCUSED OR CONVICTED OF CRIME AND THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS FOR PROTECTION. PREVIOUS APPLICATIONS OF THE GAME HAVE SHOWN ITS EFFECTIVENESS IN DEMONSTRATING THE IMPLICATIONS OF ALTERNATIVE SETS OF VALUES IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. THE SIMULATION MODEL SPECIFIES SELECTED READING MATERIALS, A SEQUENCE OF ACTIVITIES, AND REQUISITES FOR IMPLEMENTING THE GAME. THE GENERAL RULES, GAME TIMING, AND PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS ARE ALSO REVIEWED. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (KBL)