FPSY 6135: Criminal Behavior

Final Project Guidelines

For your Final Project, you will select three case scenarios from the Ebook you referenced in Week 6 of this course (Heilbrun, et al (2002). Mental Health Assessment: A Casebook. New York: Oxford Press), each case scenario representing a different type of offender (i.e., mentally disordered offender, sex offender, violent offender, family violence offender, female offender, white-collar criminal, cyber criminal, or terrorist), and apply a specific theoretical approach to the criminal behaviors displayed in each case. You also will analyze the degree to which developmental risk factors and correlates of criminal behavior influence the criminal behavior that the offender exhibits. Finally, you will evaluate whether or not the offender in each case scenario is a criminal. Note: Although assessment is an integral step in the tasks you complete in this Final Project, for the purposes of this course and Final Project, you will not assess the offenders in the case scenarios you select.

Your Final Project may be presented via one of the following options:

A 10- to 12-page (not including references, title page, or abstract), double-spaced, APA-formatted paper that is submitted to the Dropbox.

A narrated PowerPoint presentation (minimum 20 slides) submitted to the Dropbox. This PowerPoint must be accompanied by separate 3- to 4-page written summary (that is also submitted to the Dropbox) and must follow these guidelines:
The narration, which serves as a verbal presentation, should include anything and everything you would say in a paper.
References and citations may be included at the end of the presentation in the final slides, or they may be included throughout the presentation after the applicable information.
The presentation should demonstrate proficiency in the use of PowerPoint. Your Instructor cannot offer any guidance on technical issues.

The Final Project must include:

A minimum of 5 references (in addition to any course readings that you may wish to reference). Please be aware that user-created websites such as Wikipedia will not be accepted as scholarly references. (Please consult the Walden University Library’s instructions for evaluating research resources, which includes a link to criteria for evaluating resources.)
A brief of each of the three case scenarios you selected.
A description of each of the criminal behaviors exhibited by the offender in each case scenario.
An analysis of how you might apply a specific biological, psychological, or sociological theory or approach to understanding and explaining each of the criminal behaviors. Be sure to select a different theory or approach for each behavior you discuss.
A description of the correlates and developmental risk factors that influence the specific criminal behaviors.
An analysis of how each correlate and developmental risk factor influences the specific criminal behaviors.
An answer to the question “Is this person a criminal?” with an analysis of why or why not.
Reference
e-book: Heilbrun, K., Marczyk, G. R., & DeMatteo, D. (2002). Forensic mental health assessment: A casebook. New York: Oxford Press
Use the eBooks Collection and search by title in the NetLibrary database.

Your Final Project will be graded on a 20-point scale and is worth 20% of your final grade.

Although the Final Project is not due until Day 7 of Week 11, you should become familiar with the project requirements and have them in mind as you proceed through the course.

The Final Project will be evaluated according to all four indicators in the Application Assignment and Final Project Writing Rubric, which is located in the Course Info area under Course Home. Be sure that the Final Project is written using APA format.

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