1. Free Speech" Please respond to the following:

• Support or criticize the statement that rude gestures (e.g., showing the middle finder to a police officer, etc.) would constitute fighting words or a threat towards a police officer. Justify your position. In your opinion, is gun control legislation necessary? Why or why not? Will gun control laws work to reduce violent crime? Justify your response. Compare and contrast the fundamental differences between libel and slander, and provide one (1) example of each term in question which demonstrates the key differences between them.

2. "Developmental Theories and Common Misconceptions"

• Developmental theories have achieved widespread acceptance because they explain onset; escalation; course maintenance; de-escalation; desistance in individuals’ delinquent and criminal careers. Developmental models help to map the offense-based pathway to gang involvement. The developmental framework, in a simplified manner, depicts key stepping-stones in the gang member pathway. Using this week’s reading from your textbook, determine three (3) key propositions of developmental or life-course theories that you find most relevant to the onset of adolescence criminal groups. Next suggest two (2) ways for each of your selected key propositions of development or life-course theories that we can use to alter the outcomes of the gang member pathways to reduce gang activity.Using the Internet, Strayer databases, and your textbook propose four (4) common misperceptions about gang involvement, persistence, and desistence that can be debunked. Next, of the four (4) misconceptions you proposed which debunked misconception surprised you the most. Justify your response.

3.Homicide" and “Hate Crimes” Please respond to the following:

• From the e-Activity, give your opinion of Jack Kevorkian’s saying, “dying is not a crime”, and analyze the manner in which his actions rose to the level of homicide. Provide one (1) example of his actions that meet the elements of a homicide. The Anti-Defamation League comprehensively reviews legislation that targets hate crimes (those committed as a result of bias or prejudice). Several federal and state laws have been enacted to address hate crimes . Provide one (1) example of a hate crime law. Next, explain how that law is being used to combat hate crimes and whether or not you think the law is effective. Justify your response.

4. "Female Gangs"

• Girls have been active participants in U.S. gangs since the late 19th Century. From this week’s reading determine three (3) reasons why gang research was so slow to notice the active involvement of girls in gangs. Next, do you believe that female gang involvement is increasing or decreasing as a result of increased gang research? Provide support for your response.Using the Internet and Strayer databases research three (3) instances of serious criminal activity committed by modern-day female gangs. Next, determine whether or not your selected instances were treated the same or different than crimes committed by male gangs. In your response provide one (1) examples for each of your instances supporting whether a crime committed by a female gang was either treated the same or different than the same crime committed by a male gang.