Week 1 Discussion

Governmental Responses to Crime: Ancient-Contemporary Comparisons

As you study criminal justice, it is imperative to examine thevarious responses to crime through history. Traditionally, responseswere focused on current issues without connecting the historicalrelationship between groups, institutions, cultures, and governmentalideologies. Understanding the historical context of contemporarycriminal justice responses is critical.

For this Discussion, you compare ancient governmental responsesaround the world to crime with contemporary responses to crime. Select aspecific crime, and using the Learning Resources, research ancient (ofyour choice; see your Learning Resources for context) and contemporaryresponses to that crime. Analyze the commonalities and differencesbetween the responses, and evaluate whether or not the responses areeffective.

Post by Day 3 the type of crime youselected. Then explain one ancient governmental response and onecontemporary governmental response to that crime. As can be found inthis week’s readings, crime is responded to from the relative culturalreality of that time period. Provide an example to illustrate yourpoints. Describe the commonalities and the differences in theseresponses. Explain whether or not you consider either response effectiveand why. Finally, explain whether international responses to crime havehelped shape the governmental response to crime where you live. If so,explain how. Provide an example. Use the Walden Library and select anarticle to support your response.

Respond by Day 5 to at least twocolleagues and offer alternative explanations for the commonalities anddifferences. Or, offer an alternative perspective on how internationalperspectives have helped shape your criminal justice system.