Your essay should apply one of the criminological theories discussed in the first section (Deterrence/Rational Choice, Routine Activities/Rational Choice, Biological/Biosocial, Psychological) to a current issue or event, using a news article along with the textbook as sources. Students will analyze the event or issue as portrayed by news media and write a brief but in-depth discussion of how one of the theories discussed that week applies to that event, issue, or phenomenon. • Your essay should be approximately 2 pages in length, double-spaced, using Times New Roman 12-point font and APA citation. • You can use the theory to attempt to explain the event or issue of your choice (What would this theory say about this event?), use the event or issue to provide evidence for or against the theory (Does this current issue support or debunk the theory?), or use the theory to provide evidence for or against an argument, opinion, or narrative in the news (Does this theory support or debunk this news narrative?) or anything else you want to do. • Try to focus a little more on your discussion of the theory than your discussion of the news article. I do not need to hear all the gory details of the crime, for example, unless they are directly relevant to your theoretical analysis. Your discussion should be 70% theory and 30% news article or something like that. • Make sure to include the major elements of the theory in your discussion (if you write about deterrence, write about certainty, severity, celerity, general & specific, etc. and apply these concepts to the news story) • The news article you discuss should be recent, meaning from 2021. • The news article you discuss should not already be talking about theory. The news story should just be a news story, without in-depth criminological analysis. It is your task to apply criminological theory to a current event described in a news article. Not to tell me what some article like "Deterrence and Crime: Here's How They Are Connected" says. The news story should just be a basic news story. • Avoid opinion editorials as well. • Read your paper out loud before you send it to me and try to improve your writing. • You will not be graded on your "ideology", opinion, or point of view. Just make it a well written paper and I am open to anything. Follow basic essay structure - title, introduction, body, conclusion. Make it interesting. Tell me about strange things that I may not know about. Just show me that you are thinking about this stuff.

Discussion

Summary of the news article

The Department of Homeland security have reported an increase in ransomware attacks since 2017. This increase is associated with the lack of stringent security measures and the profitability of the industry. Authorities and law enforcers increasingly urge organizations and individuals against paying ransom to these individuals. This is associated with the fact that there is no guarantee that these criminals will release the data. Additionally, paying out increases the viability of this act as a trade. The government is increasingly implementing measures to curb these criminal activities. In the near future, the rate is expected to have decreased. This paper aims at providing an analysis of the news article using the deterrence/rational choice theory.

Body

Relationship between news article and theory

The deterrence and rational choice theory holds that committing a criminal activity is by choice. According to this theory, people make decisions based on what they consider is most rewarding and less costly. For instance, a person may choose to steal a shoe not to persevere the scotching heat on the ground. In this case, the most rewarding choice is stealing the shoe. Deterrence is considered a subtype of RCT because they share a significant amount of similarities. The deterrence theory states that criminal acts and behaviors are deterred because of the associated punishment that comes with it. For example, when an individual thinks of committing a crime but refrains because of the jail time he may suffer if caught. This deters them from engaging in these illegal and criminal activities.

In this case, the news article can be assessed using the two theories. The government is tasked with the responsibility of protecting the citizens from criminal activities. This can be done in two ways: deterrence or rehabilitation. Deterrence happens when the government introduces more stringent measures to fight these criminals. In the case of the article, the government has deters cyber criminals by publishing the rising rates and announcing its seriousness in fighting ransomware crimes. By doing this, they evoke fear in the minds of these criminals. They know they are being watched which stops them from committing other crimes.

The news article also provided information on how the government intended to curb these crimes. According to the article, the government will curb these criminal activities by training the IT staff and the organization’s users. The education and training will focus on helping these groups identify potential malware than can lead to ransomware attacks. It prepares them and equips them with the information necessary to handle attacks. These statements serve to deter and warn criminals. The chances of being caught inherently increase with the implementation of these measures. With this in mind, criminals know to avoid and stop committing these crimes or they will be caught.

This article can also be assessed from the rational choice theory perspective. Criminals are provided with two choices here: the cost and the reward. There is a reward in receiving ransom from organizations- it benefits them financially. However, the cost associated with this choice is jail term. The government, in partnership with other organizations, has introduced more serious measures. The chances of being caught have been significantly increased which informs the criminal of his chances. Rationally, the individual will understand that he will suffer a cost if he commits the crime. The chances of getting away with it have been significantly reduced. A wise criminal in this case, deters from committing the crime.

Conclusion

The two theories can be used to analyze the news article provided. Applying this theories to the news article helps us better understand the effectiveness of the policies implemented by the government. It also helps us better understand the minds of criminals and how the government uses this information to their advantage.

Outline

Topic: Discussion

Format – Essay

Introduction

• The Department of Homeland security have reported an increase in ransomware attacks since 2017. This increase is associated with the lack of stringent security measures and the profitability of the industry
• Additionally, paying out increases the viability of this act as a trade. The government is increasingly implementing measures to curb these criminal activities.

Overview

   Body:

Relationship between news article and theory

1. The deterrence and rational choice theory holds that committing a criminal activity is by choice
2. For instance, a person may choose to steal a shoe not to persevere the scotching heat on the ground.
3. In this case, the news article can be assessed using the two theories. The government is tasked with the responsibility of protecting the citizens from criminal activities
4. They know they are being watched which stops them from committing other crimes.

The article   

1. The education and training will focus on helping these groups identify potential malware than can lead to ransomware attacks. It prepares them and equips them with the information necessary to handle attack
2. This article can also be assessed from the rational choice theory perspective. Criminals are provided with two choices here: the cost and the reward
3. The chances of being caught have been significantly increased which informs the criminal of his chances. Rationally, the individual will understand that he will suffer a cost if he commits the crime.

Conclusion

1. The two theories can be used to analyze the news article provided. Applying this theories to the news article helps us better understand the effectiveness of the policies implemented by the government