Myths and misinformation surround the topic of sexual violence. For years, these myths have hung around the discourse, further muddying an already difficult topic about which to communicate. Although all myths can be harmful, there are some that may be arguably more harmful. For this Discussion, you identify some of the myths surrounding the topic of sexual abuse and consider why they have remained so prevalent.

By Day 3

Post an explanation of which myths of sexual violence you think are the most harmful and why. Please use the Learning Resources to support your answer.

Assignment: Female Offenders

The 2013 FBI Uniform Crime Report, Crime in the United States, 2012 (n.d.), indicates that females accounted for about 26.2% of arrestees for 2012. The mid-year 2010 Bureau of Justice Statistics (Minton, 2011) report also indicates that 12.3% of incarcerated offenders were female. While these numbers are rather small compared to male offenders’ rates, there has been a significant increase in these percentages in recent years. Some criminologists argue that accompanying this increase is a fundamental change in the nature and the extent of female offending, while others suggest that there is no fundamental change in female offending but, rather, a shift in society’s perception of particular crimes associated with female offenders. Vigorous prosecution of petty crimes, for example, may be at the root of the increase in numbers of female offenders in recent years. This leaves open the possibility that female offenders have, like males, been engaging in criminal behavior, but only recently held accountable at a comparable rate.

Although there is much debate on both sides of the argument about whether there is a significant difference in male and female criminal behavior, how society views gender roles certainly affects how female offenders are perceived. While there appears to be no definitive answer as to whether male and female offenders are significantly different, the question is far from moot, as the potential difference affects how crime prevention and treatment programs are crafted and whether differences that influence criminal behavior may be addressed.

For this Assignment review the article, “Understanding the Female Offender,” and consider the primary causes of female offending. Then, review the online summary, “Women and Girls in the Criminal Justice System,” focusing on the risk factors associated with criminal behavior of female offenders. Also consider how crime prevention and treatment may differ for male and female offenders.

Assignment (1–2 pages):

• Briefly describe characteristics associated with female and male offenders.
• Compare (similarities and differences) of female and male offenders.
• Based upon your comparison, draw at least one conclusion about the psychology, characteristics, and behaviors of female and male offenders.

Support your Assignment with specific references to all resources used in its preparation. You are asked to provide a reference list only for those resources not included in the resources for this course.

By Day 7

Submit your Assignment.

Submission and Grading Information

To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:

• Please save your Assignment using the naming convention “WK9Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” as the name.
• Click the Week 9 Assignment Rubric to review the Grading Criteria for the Assignment.
• Click the Week 9 Assignment link. You will also be able to “View Rubric” for grading criteria from this area.
• Next, from the Attach File area, click on the Browse My Computer button. Find the document you saved as “WK9Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” and click Open.
• If applicable: From the Plagiarism Tools area, click the checkbox for I agree to submit my paper(s) to the Global Reference Database.
• Click on the Submit button to complete your submission.

Before completing this Journal reflection, be sure you have watched the NPR podcast interview with Dr. Chenjerai Kumanyika that is posted in this module. Then, reflect on the following questions in your journal entry, writing at least one full paragraph for each question.

1. The interview with Dr. Chenjerai Kumanyika provides context for policing in the United States. After reviewing the tools in the Cognitive Toolkit, identify a tool that seems like it could be helpful to you in making sense of these events and this context. Define the tool in your own words and discuss its relevance to understanding the material covered in the podcast.
2. The narratives about the situation, including media narratives, casual conversations, and your own understanding of events, might be different. Engage in the self-awareness tool, identify your perspective on the issue and the reasons for your perspective. Try to pick apart and explain why this is your position.

Podcast:

NPR Podcast on the History of Policing in the US

(Links to an external site.)

Listen to this brief interview with Professor Chenjerai Kumanyika of Rutgers University about the history of policing in the United States. Reflect on Dr. Kumanyika’s contextualization of the current resistance and uprisings about police violence vis-a-vis a history of policing and its role in this country. Think about the historical relationships and events discussed here, and how they connect with current policy decisions.