The document discusses eliminating the concept of "guilty mind" from criminal law and replacing it with a strict liability standard. This would mean people could be found guilty of serious crimes even if they did not intend to commit them or were not aware their acts were criminal. Currently, defenses like insanity or battered person allow people to avoid charges even if they committed criminal acts. The reaction paper assignment asks students to write a 3 page paper responding to this topic, stating and supporting their position, discussing opposing views, and addressing implications.

1. The concept of the guilty mind” should be eliminated from the criminal
law and replaced with a strict liability standard
Criminology Reaction PaperThis paper is DUE 2014. The reaction paper may be handed in
at the end of class or submitted via e mail. Late submissions will not be read or
accepted. Your reaction paper should be 3 pages long. It will be graded based upon the
following criteria: State your reaction: worth 20 pointsSupport your position with the text
or other research- you should cite at least three sourcesBriefly discuss the opposing view
and basis for it: worth 10 pointsState the strengths and weaknesses of your position: worth
25 pointsWhat are the implications of your position: worth 10 pointsGrammar: worth 15
points Please choose from one of the following topics: The concept of the guilty mind
should be eliminated from the criminal law and replaced with a strict liability
standard.Current criminal defenses such as the battered wife defense or the insanity
defense allow people to go free even though they committed serious criminal acts and are
actually guilty as charged. A criminologist studying a gang decided to hang with them,
drinking and watching as they steal cars. He reports the crime later to the
police.Criminologists believe that it is possible to predict where crime will take place in the
future. Is there a downside to this type of prediction?Crime rates have been declining in the
United States but increasing in Europe. Some criminologists feel that factors that correlate
with crime changes in the United States have little utility in predicting changes in other
cultures. What other factors may increase or reduce crime rates?Certain social and
environmental factors would influence crime rates. A national emergency would increase
crime rates.The fact that males are more violent than females means that crime has a
biological rather than social basis (because male and females share a similar
environment.)The routine activities describes why people become victims rather than why
there are motivated offenders. How would the routine activities theory explain the Virginia
Tech shootings? What aspects of the theory could be applied to a seemingly senseless
killing?Schools are some of the most dangerous locations in the community.A person bears
some of the responsibility for his or her victimization when the person maintains a lifestyle
that contributes to the chances of becoming a victim.Jacque’s research suggest that drug
dealers are rational decision makers whose choice of retaliation styles depends on personal
and situational factors.Because the death penalty does not have a deterrent effect on
criminals, criminals are more likely to kill police officers when the death penalty is in
place.Criminals are rational decision makers. The government should control the content

2. of TV shows and limit the amount of weekly violence.People diagnosed as psychopaths
should be separated and treated even if they have not committed a crime.Psychopathic
murderers should be spared the death penalty because they lack the capacity to control
their behavior.According to research kids who watch a lot of TV in adolescence are more
likely to behave aggressively in adolescence.Storylines are used by people to get involved in
crime. Some storylines may be used to prevent or inhibit illegal activities.The code of the
street as described by Anderson applies in my neighborhood and is universal.Forms of
communication such as the Internet will reduce cultural differences and create a more
homogeneous society.According to Topalli kids in disorganized neighborhoods shun
conventional values.According to Sykes and Matza everyone shares conventional norms and
values.Negative labels cause crime. People who commit crimes become negatively
labelled.Once weakened, a person’s bonds to society can become reattached through social
processes.The war in Iraq constituted sate organized crime according to Bonn.