Comprehensive Study Guide for
Introduction to Criminology Exam- 100%
Accurate Questions & Answers |2025
Edition |
Explain how strain theory accounts for deviant behavior in societies with high economic inequality.
Strain theory suggests that individuals in societies with significant economic disparities
experience pressure to achieve socially accepted goals, such as wealth, without having equal access to
legitimate means, leading to deviance.
Discuss the role of moral panic in shaping public perceptions of crime and its implications for
criminology.
Moral panic exaggerates societal fears about certain behaviors or groups, often influencing public
policy and diverting attention from underlying structural issues in crime.
Evaluate how the classical school of criminology influenced the development of modern criminal justice
systems.
The classical school emphasized rational choice, free will, and proportionate punishment, laying
the foundation for contemporary justice systems' focus on deterrence and due process.
Analyze the implications of intersectionality in understanding crime patterns and victimization.
Intersectionality highlights how overlapping social categories, like race, gender, and class, shape
individuals' experiences with crime, both as offenders and victims.
How does labeling theory challenge traditional views on criminality, and what are its policy implications?
Labeling theory argues that societal reactions and labels, rather than inherent behavior,
significantly shape a person’s criminal identity, suggesting reforms in how justice systems manage
stigmatization.
Critique the effectiveness of restorative justice compared to punitive justice models in addressing
recidivism.
1
, Restorative justice focuses on reconciliation and rehabilitation, often proving more effective in
reducing recidivism by addressing the root causes of crime and fostering accountability.
Discuss how the social disorganization theory explains the concentration of crime in urban
neighborhoods.
Social disorganization theory attributes high crime rates to the breakdown of community
structures, weak social networks, and lack of collective efficacy in certain urban areas.
Evaluate the impact of broken windows theory on law enforcement practices and community relations.
Broken windows theory led to proactive policing strategies but has faced criticism for
contributing to over-policing and strained relations in marginalized communities.
How do critical criminologists view the relationship between capitalism and crime?
Critical criminologists argue that capitalism inherently creates inequalities, leading to crimes by
the oppressed and institutional crimes by the powerful to maintain control.
Examine the role of opportunity structures in shaping white-collar criminal behavior.
Opportunity structures provide the means and settings for individuals in privileged positions to
commit white-collar crimes, such as fraud, often escaping the scrutiny applied to street crimes.
How has feminist criminology reshaped our understanding of female criminality?
Feminist criminology emphasizes the role of patriarchy, gender inequality, and systemic biases in
shaping the experiences and behaviors of women in the criminal justice system.
Assess the challenges in measuring crime accurately using official crime statistics.
Official crime statistics often underrepresent actual crime levels due to underreporting,
discrepancies in law enforcement practices, and societal biases.
Explain the concept of situational crime prevention and its application in reducing crime rates.
Situational crime prevention focuses on reducing opportunities for crime through environmental
design, target hardening, and increasing surveillance to deter potential offenders.
2
Introduction to Criminology Exam- 100%
Accurate Questions & Answers |2025
Edition |
Explain how strain theory accounts for deviant behavior in societies with high economic inequality.
Strain theory suggests that individuals in societies with significant economic disparities
experience pressure to achieve socially accepted goals, such as wealth, without having equal access to
legitimate means, leading to deviance.
Discuss the role of moral panic in shaping public perceptions of crime and its implications for
criminology.
Moral panic exaggerates societal fears about certain behaviors or groups, often influencing public
policy and diverting attention from underlying structural issues in crime.
Evaluate how the classical school of criminology influenced the development of modern criminal justice
systems.
The classical school emphasized rational choice, free will, and proportionate punishment, laying
the foundation for contemporary justice systems' focus on deterrence and due process.
Analyze the implications of intersectionality in understanding crime patterns and victimization.
Intersectionality highlights how overlapping social categories, like race, gender, and class, shape
individuals' experiences with crime, both as offenders and victims.
How does labeling theory challenge traditional views on criminality, and what are its policy implications?
Labeling theory argues that societal reactions and labels, rather than inherent behavior,
significantly shape a person’s criminal identity, suggesting reforms in how justice systems manage
stigmatization.
Critique the effectiveness of restorative justice compared to punitive justice models in addressing
recidivism.
1
, Restorative justice focuses on reconciliation and rehabilitation, often proving more effective in
reducing recidivism by addressing the root causes of crime and fostering accountability.
Discuss how the social disorganization theory explains the concentration of crime in urban
neighborhoods.
Social disorganization theory attributes high crime rates to the breakdown of community
structures, weak social networks, and lack of collective efficacy in certain urban areas.
Evaluate the impact of broken windows theory on law enforcement practices and community relations.
Broken windows theory led to proactive policing strategies but has faced criticism for
contributing to over-policing and strained relations in marginalized communities.
How do critical criminologists view the relationship between capitalism and crime?
Critical criminologists argue that capitalism inherently creates inequalities, leading to crimes by
the oppressed and institutional crimes by the powerful to maintain control.
Examine the role of opportunity structures in shaping white-collar criminal behavior.
Opportunity structures provide the means and settings for individuals in privileged positions to
commit white-collar crimes, such as fraud, often escaping the scrutiny applied to street crimes.
How has feminist criminology reshaped our understanding of female criminality?
Feminist criminology emphasizes the role of patriarchy, gender inequality, and systemic biases in
shaping the experiences and behaviors of women in the criminal justice system.
Assess the challenges in measuring crime accurately using official crime statistics.
Official crime statistics often underrepresent actual crime levels due to underreporting,
discrepancies in law enforcement practices, and societal biases.
Explain the concept of situational crime prevention and its application in reducing crime rates.
Situational crime prevention focuses on reducing opportunities for crime through environmental
design, target hardening, and increasing surveillance to deter potential offenders.
2
