Scholarly+articles


 * Graduation Project Annotated Bibliography**
 * Student Name: Brigid Clark**
 * Annotation #1**

Waldfogel, Joel. "Prison Does Not Deter Crime." //Gale Opposing Viewpoints in// //Context//. Galegroup, 2010. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. . __Author’s credentials:__ Joel Waldfogel is a professor of Business and Public Policy at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He received his A.B. in economics from Brandeis University and his Ph.D. in economics from Stanford University, in 1984 and 1990 respectively. Before becoming a teacher at Wharton, he was on the faculty at Yale, published a book about economics (through Harvard University Press), and currently writes articles for several academic journals.
 * __MLA Citation:__**
 * __INFORMATION:__**

__Scope and purpose of the work:__ This article is intended to both inform and persuade the audience of the author’s opinion. It isa backed up with specific facts and details.

__Intended Audience:__ The article is written in a formal tone, yet with simplistic enough language that the average person could easily understand the message. It could be used by a general audience who does not have an in-depth knowledge of the subject, but is also useful to the experts in the field, due to the specific details it contains.

__Thesis or main idea:__ Waldfogel begins by immediately stating the purpose of his article: to determine whether policing or punishment successfully deters crime. By addressing the universality of crime, Waldfogel proposes his conclusion, following research on two studies, that prison time prevents crime through incapacitation rather than deterrence, and that stricter punishments and more policing leads to a lower crime rate.
 * __SUMMARY__**

__Summary of main arguments:__ Waldfogel supports his thesis through arguments: the effect of crime waves on policing and punishments, an analysis of the data from David S. Lee and Justin McCrary (involving a study of the difference in crime rates in a 17yr old and an 18yr old, aka a difference in the length of a punishment), and a study of the statistical number of people arrested after their 18th birthday who were rearrested within a set time period.

**__EVIDENCE__** __Summary of evidence:__ Waldfogel refers to the work of two researchers in particular, David S. Lee from Columbia University, and Justin McCrary from Michigan University. The researchers both claim that the probability of being sentenced to prison for any given crime rose from three to seven percent after a person turns 18, yet the tendency to commit crimes does not perceptibly change.

**__EVALUATION__** __Evaluation of research:__ The article is both well-researched and presented in a clear, logical fashion. The source is scholarly and reliable, but the author, while reliable, does not seem to necessary have an inherent knowledge of crime, being a economist. Fourteen references were given following this article, as well as other suggested readings.

__Evaluation of scope:__ The article fully addresses the topic, leaving the audience with no remaining questions, and bases his argumentation of the results of two separate researchers, as well as statistical results.

__Evaluation of author bias:__ The author argues for his own thesis that prison time does not deter crime, but policing and stricter policies do deter crime. Obviously he is biased, but he argues his belief academically, using a professional tone and facts to support his onions. Due to the nature of Opposing Viewpoints, he does not supply a recognition of the opposing argument, as that is provided in other articles.

__**REFLECTION:**__ Because I have decided to focus my final project on the deterrence of crime rather than the imprisonment of juveniles, this article is not fully relevant. Yet it does take an interesting approach to the question of deterrence, using a single population to analyze the effect of a longer sentence in terms of deterrence. I have not yet decided what stance I will argue in my project, but this source has succeeded in convincing me that prison does not deter crime.

**Graduation Project Annotated Bibliography ** **Student Name: Brigid Clark ** **Annotation #3 **

**__MLA Citation: __**  Bailey, W. C., and Ronald W. Smith. "Punishment: It's Severity and Certainty."  //The Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology, and Political Science// Vol.  63.No. $ (1973): 530-539. //JSTOR//. Web. 4 May 2011.  stable/  1141807?seq=1&Search=yes&searchText=prison&searchText=detterence&list=hide&search  Uri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3Dprison%2Bdetterence%26gw%3Djtx%26acc%3Don  %26prq%3Dprisons%26hp%3D25%26wc%3Don&prevSearch=&item=1&ttl=3&returnArticleServic  e=showFullText&resultsServiceName=null>.

**__INFORMATION: __**  __Author’s credentials:__  William C. Bailey received his PhD in Criminology from Washington State University. He is a professor of sociology, the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, the Director of Graduate Admissions, a member of the Equal Opportunity Hearing Panel, and a recipient of the Service Award Recognition, all at Cleveland State University. He has written several published, peer-reviewed articles, primarily about crime deterrence and the death penalty.

__ Scope and purpose of the work: __ <span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> The article acts as informational report, acting to inform and convince the audience of the author’s opinion.

__ Intended Audience: __ Based on the source where the article is published, the professional tone, and the complex terminology and ideas included, the article was likely written for a professional audience, yet the research question and results may still be valuable to the average person.

**__<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">SUMMARY __** <span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> __Thesis or main idea:__ <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> The article begins by stating that the intention of punishment is to deter crime, and questioning how effective that heavily debated logic is. He then offers his thesis: “In sum, it has generally been concluded by most sociologists that the death penalty’s inefficiency has been proven conclusively; and further, that punishment in general is ineffective in deterring crime” (Bailey 530).

__ Summary of main arguments: __ <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> Bailey supports his thesis with two primary, fully explained arguments: that the level of deterrence can be measured through the severity or the punishment, and that extreme punishment such as the death penalty is not used often enough to induce significant fear.

**__<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">EVIDENCE __** __ Summary of evidence: __ <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> Bailey references two studies in particular, Chiricos and Waldo’s 1970 “Punishment and Crime: An Examination of Empirical Evidence”, and Jeffery’s “Criminal Behavior and Learning Theory”. Both texts are highly relevant to Bailey’s article, and discuss the statistics behind criminal deterrence. Bailey also includes his own statistical information from various police departments and federal organizations.

**__<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">EVALUATION __** <span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> __Evaluation of research:__ <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> The article is well-researched, and extremely in-depth. The arguments are presented in a clear, logical fashion, and weave in the results of other studies and facts. An amazing 67 sources were given following this article.

__ Evaluation of scope: __ <span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> The topic has been fully addressed. The author cites many resources, addressing and discrediting various opposing viewpoints.

__ Evaluation of author bias: __ <span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> The author, based on his profession, seems a reliable source, yet he does not present any opposing arguments, arguing only the pros of his opinion. Factual evidence supports his arguments, and his work is almost entirely based on statistical results.

**__<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">REFLECTION: __** <span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> This article was highly helpful in providing specified information about my topic. It helped expand my knowledge of deviance and deterrence. The information in the study provides an interesting new side to my project, focusing on the death penalty in particular, and is a view I had not considered before. I will definitely use this source in my final project. <span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">

<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> Citation: DiMascio, William, et al. "The Death Penalty Questions Lead to...More Questions." //Correctional Forum// Mar. 2005: 1-7. //The Pennsylvania Prison// //Society//. Web. 16 May 2011. <http://www.prisonsociety.org>. The Pennsylvania Prison Society is an organization dedicated to monitoring correctional facilities in Pennsylvania, and ensuring that the implemented policies are meant to improve prison conditions. The director, William M. DiMascio, was previously a consultant to correctional policy advocates, and received a college education, majoring in both journalism and criminal justice. He is reliable because he has been published in various other articles, in both academic journals and popular sources. This piece is both an informational and persuasive piece, providing statistics and professionals opinions in an organized, logical argument meant to inform and persuade the reader. Because this is the first issue of the Correctional Forum publication, it is meant for a more broad audience, with a basic background, and can be understood by the average reader. The thesis appears to be a repeated motto to “promote a humane, just, and restorative correctional system and a rational approach to criminal justice,” which they accomplish through arguments that 1. human life is sanctity, and to take it is irrevocable, 2. The death penalty legitimizes killing, the very opposite of what justice should seek to do, 3. Current statistics of states that do use the death penalty, such as Wisconsin and Georgia, prove the death penalty ineffective, and 4. Restorative values create safe refuges for accountability and healing, bringing about a permanent decline in the crime rate. The author clearly presents his arguments and thesis, and backs his own observations with research and statistics performed by professionals, such as the Death Penalty Information Center. However, the article does not address or discredit the arguments that the death penalty is effective at crime deterrence, perhaps lessening its reliability, if only slightly.