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Northern Essex Community College

Module 4 Discussion Activity

Review the discussion overview, learning objectives, prompt, and participation expectations before posting.

Overview

This activity is designed to help you apply criminological theory to real-world criminal behavior using recent, high-profile U.S. cases. You will begin by identifying relevant criminological theories and then select one offender from the provided list to analyze in depth. Using theory, you will examine how factors such as social environment, individual traits, opportunity structures, power, or strain may help explain the criminal behavior in the case you chose. The focus is not on retelling the crime, but on demonstrating how theory can be used as an analytical tool to better understand criminal conduct. This assignment emphasizes critical thinking, theory application, and the connection between abstract concepts and real criminal cases.

Learning Objectives

(These are not the questions to be answered. Please review and answer the Discussion Topic(s).)

  • LO1: Discuss why no one theory can explain crime.
  • LO2: Apply criminological theory to surmise why an individual might develop criminal tendencies.
Discussion Topic(s)
  • Prepare a list of criminological theories to be applied to some of the more infamous criminals in U.S. history.
  • Please select one of the following criminals and apply specific criminological theory to the criminal of your choice:
    • Bryan Kohberger – convicted of the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
    • Sean “Diddy” Combs – sentenced in 2025 on federal prostitution-related charges after a widely reported trial involving alleged coercive practices.
    • Rex Andrew Heuermann – charged in connection with the Gilgo Beach serial killings on Long Island (arrested 2023; case continues).
    • Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos – arrested in 2025 as an alleged MS-13 gang leader in the U.S.; investigation ongoing.
    • Joel Vargas-Escobar – alleged MS-13 gang leader linked to multiple murders, arrested in 2025.
    • Victor Martinez Hernandez – convicted for the 2024 murder of Rachel Morin in Maryland, sentenced to life plus 40 years.
Acceptable and Ethical Use of AI
  • Use AI to help you review and organize relevant criminological theories from the course that could be applied to your selected criminal case, supporting your understanding before writing your analysis.
  • Use AI to assist you in thinking through how a specific criminological theory explains patterns of behavior in your chosen case, helping you clarify your theoretical application before completing the assignment.
Directions

Please read all instructions carefully before participating in the discussion.

  • Students must complete one Main Post that answers the discussion topic using more than 250 words.
  • Students must reply to at least two of their classmates (Peer Responses) using at least 150 words. Responses should encourage further dialogue in the discussion forum. Asking a classmate, a question is a nice way of furthering that dialogue.
  • Students must first compose an original Main Post to gain access to the discussion forum. Attempts to post a blank initial post or anything other than the true Main post will result in a 20-point deduction.
Important Reminder

Important: Submitting incomplete or placeholder responses may result in a grade deduction based on course policies.