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SOCIOL 395N Criminal Networks: From Al Capone to Al-Qaeda

Syllabus

Winter Session — December 15, 2014 to January 17, 2015

Instructor Information

Instructor: Chris Smith Office hours: We have a Blackboard discussion forum designated for “office

hours” where we can collectively post and respond to course-related questions and issues

Contact: For private correspondence please contact me through Blackboard Messages

Email: cmsmith@soc.umass.edu Course Description Criminal networks is a perspective that examines how people are connected in order to

explain group offending, peer influence, and structures of crime and victimization. Students will learn basic social network analysis concepts and apply them to topics such as the Chicago mob, white-collar crime, street gangs, global trafficking, and terrorist cells.

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Course Objectives This course has been designed to meet the four following objectives. Objective 1: Critical thinking and in-depth learning about criminal networks Objective 2: Distinguish between research, opinion, and stereotypes on criminal networks Objective 3: Communicate clearly, precisely, and effectively through writing and online interactions Objective 4: Develop skills in social network data collection, descriptive analysis, and evidence-based argument Required Materials

Students will need a reliable computer with a decent internet connection. Students should make arrangements to have a backup computer should they experience computer problems during the course (e.g., find someone who would be willing to lend you a laptop, look up times and availability at your local library, contact your local computer store and find out if they rent laptops).

There are no required textbooks to purchase for this course. All readings and most of the required media are available in Blackboard either as pdfs or as web links. The one required media purchase for this course is access to at least one episode of the HBO show, The Wire. You can stream this show through iTunes ($2 an episode), through Amazon.com ($2 an episode), or HBO GO (requires a subscription). Please note that some of the files on Blackboard are very large and require extra time to display.

Online Communication Students will pace their weekly coursework according to their own schedules. I do

request that students check messages and discussion boards as regularly as possible throughout the week in order to avoid lags in communication. I will use Blackboard messages and announcements regularly for communication. One important thing to note is that Blackboard does not alert you when you have new messages, so we all need to get into the regular habit of checking messages. My preference is that you call me “Chris” in our online communication.

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Letter to Students Dear Students, Welcome to Sociology 395N Criminal Networks: From Al Capone to Al-Qaeda. This is a new course at UMass, and I am enthusiastic to instruct it. I am an award-winning instructor, and I have taught crime courses at UMass and Brown University. Though I enjoy traditional classroom settings, I am excited about the technological tools available to us in an online course setting. I have designed a student-centered hands-on course for us. Criminal networks is a perspective that examines how people are connected to explain group offending, peer influence, and structures of crime and victimization. This means that rather than studying individual offenders and their motives, we will be examining the social and group characteristics of crime and offending. In other words, the criminal group will be our main focus in this class. This criminal network approach has three components relevant to this course: (1) traditional criminological theories of co-offending and criminal learning, (2) basics of social networks as an approach to data and analysis, and (3) contemporary research on the structures of criminal groups. Criminal networks is a rather small, but rapidly growing, field in criminology, and we will be reading and analyzing some of the most cutting edge research on topics such as street gangs, gangster-era Chicago, computer hacking, human trafficking, white-collar conspiracies, and terrorist cells. Don’t worry if you have no idea what I mean by “social network approaches to data and analysis.” Units 4 and 5 will orient you to the logic of social networks, which we will then use throughout the term. I have selected readings and lecture materials that are introductory and appropriate to this class even though we will see more advanced uses of social network science in some of the readings. We will only be skimming the surface of social network analysis tools in this course. However, please let me know if you are interested in learning more advanced applications of social network analysis, as I can recommend several UMass faculty who regularly offer undergraduate social network courses that you might be interested in taking in the future. This is an intensive and accelerated version of Soc 395N, which means we will be completing a semester’s worth of work within a short five weeks with several holiday interruptions. Please plan your schedules accordingly, as I expect us to complete 2-3 weeks of a regular semester each week during this winter session. My expectations for you as students are to be professional, do the work, follow instructions, meet the deadlines, be an engaged on-line participant, and seek assistance if you need it. I expect academic honesty; professional writing and communication including online correspondence; and that you will not buy, sell, or share notes, assignments, study guides, or other course materials to third parties or without my permission. These expectations are also your guide on how to succeed in this course. I want us to emphasize co-creating a positive on-line learning environment. Come to discussion boards prepared so that we can maximize the quality of our discussions. Ask clarification questions or discussion generating questions to me and to your classmates. Distinguish between our opinions and the research. We also need to be respectful of varying points of view. We come from different backgrounds and have different experiences with crime and the criminal justice system. Please be mindful and respectful of these varied experiences during our discussion and activities. And please share any other ideas you have on how to co-create positive learning environments. I look forward to a great winter session with you. Sincerely,

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Important Dates

Mon Dec 15 Winter classes begin Wed Dec 17 Add/Drop ends; Last day for 100% refund (less registration fee) Thus Dec 18 Withdrawal period begins Wed Dec 24 Holiday recess begins Fri Dec 26 Classes resume Wed Dec 31 Holiday recess begins Fri Jan 2 Classes resume, mid-semester withdraw with a “w” ends Sat Jan 17 Last day of classes Wed Jan 21 Grades due

More dates available through the CPE academic calendar: http://www.umassulearn.net/academic-calendar Course Units Components

SOCIOL 395N comprises 12 units. Students are required to complete 2-3 units a week in this 5-week intensive accelerated course. Each course week begins on Monday and ends on the following Sunday with the exception of the final week 5 which ends on Saturday. All of the work for each week’s 2-3 units is due at the end of the course week, which is Sunday night at 10pm. Submissions will automatically close at this time.

Units will include the following required parts: 1. Review of previous unit 2. Lecture/instruction 3. Readings/media 4. Reading/media quizzes 5. Discussion boards 6. Assignments/research memos

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Course Units Calendar

Week 1 Dec 15 - Dec 21

Unit 1: Introduction

Unit 2: Co-offending

Unit 3: Learning Theories of Criminology

Week 2 Dec 22 - Dec 28*

Unit 4: Social Network Analysis, Part I

Unit 5: Social Network Analysis, Part II

Week 3 Dec 29 - Jan 4**

Unit 6: Street Gangs

Unit 7: Prohibition Organized Crime

Week 4 Jan 5 – Jan 11

Unit 8: Human Trafficking

Unit 9: Terrorist Cells

Unit 10: Conspiracies & Trust

Week 5 Jan 12 - Jan 17***

Unit 11: Homicide

Unit 12: Conclusion to Criminal Networks *December 24 and 25 are holidays. **December 31 and January 1 are holidays. ***January 17 is a Saturday. Note the shorter week.

Grading Total

Points Possible Percent of

Total Grade Assignments 90 19% Research Memos 150 31% Discussion 120 25% Quizzes 120 25% Total 480 100%

Final letter grades will be calculated using the following distribution:

A 446 - 480 A- 432 - 445 B+ 417 - 431 B 398 - 416 B- 384 - 397 C+ 370 - 383 C 350 - 369 C- 336 - 349 D+ 321 - 335 D 288 - 320

F <288

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Assignments 240 points total 50% of total grade 9 regular assignments 10 points each 2% each

3 research memos 50 points each 10% each Assignments are the hands-on application of course material. Some of the assignments build up important pieces for the research memos. Below is a brief list of the course assignments. Each assignment will have its own rubric. More detail specific to each assignment will be available on Blackboard. Group assignments are permitted for the research memos. Week 1

Assignment 1: Initial self-evaluation Assignment 2: Conduct an interview Assignment 3: Post interview data to the class Co-offending Wiki

Week 2

Assignment 4: Peer evaluation of Co-offending Wiki contributions Assignment 5: Draw a network

Week 3

Assignment 6: Write a research memo about co-offending Assignment 7: Sign up for and view at least 1 episode of The Wire, season 1

Week 4

Assignment 8: Add network data from The Wire episode you watched to the Wiki Assignment 9: Write a research memo about the relevance of criminal networks Assignment 10: Peer evaluation of The Wire Wiki contributions

Week 5

Assignment 11: Write a research memo about The Wire network Assignment 12: Final self-evaluation

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Discussion 120 points total 25% of total grade 12 discussions 10 points each unit 2% each

The discussion board is the main location for interaction in this course. The discussion board provides space for introductions, lecture material, discussion, clarification, and prompts for critical thinking. Students are expected to check the discussion board regularly and participate on the discussion board regularly. Students will use the discussion board to engage with each unit and post responses to critical thinking prompts for each unit. Students will rate the quality and contribution of each other’s posts using a star system. Discussion posts will be graded on the content, contribution, and peer rating of the original post as well as responses to other students’ posts.

Quizzes 120 points total 25% of total grade 12 quizzes 10 points each 2% each

Reading/Media quizzes are designed to check completion and comprehension of the assigned materials. Students should plan to complete the quizzes immediately after completing the assigned materials. These are “open book” quizzes meaning that I expect students to have access to that unit’s materials while taking the quiz. Quizzes will consist of a variety of true/false, multiple choice, matching, fill in the blank, and/or short answer questions.

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Reading List

Unit 1: Introduction Soc 395N Syllabus

Unit 2: Co-offending

McCord & Conway (2005) “Co-Offending and Patterns of Juvenile Crime”

Unit 3: Learning

Theories of Criminology

Becker (1953) “Becoming a Marihuana User”

Sutherland ([1947] 2008) “A Theory of Crime: Differential Association”

Unit 4: Social Network Analysis, Part 1

Christakis & Fowler (2009) “In the Thick of It”

Unit 5: Social Network Analysis, Part 2

Kadushin (2012) “Basic Network Concepts, Part I,” in Understanding Social Networks: Theories, Concepts, and Findings

Kadushin (2012) “Basic Network Concepts, Part II,” in Understanding Social Networks: Theories, Concepts, and Findings

Criminal Network 1900-1919

police and politicianscriminal mencriminal women

Relationships Between The Movers

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Unit 6: Street Gangs

Papachristos (2005) “Gang World”

Piquette et al. (2014) “Social Network Analysis of Urban Street Gangs”

Unit 7: Prohibition Organized

Crime

Andreas (2013) “Rumrunners and Prohibitionists” in Smuggler Nation: How Illicit Trade Made America

Papachristos & Smith (2014) “The Embedded and Multiplex Nature of Al Capone”

Unit 8: Human

Trafficking

Andreas (2013) “Coming to America Through the Back Door” in Smuggler Nation: How Illicit Trade Made America

Zhang (2014) “Snakeheads and the Cartwheel Network: Functional Fluidity as Opposed to Structural Flexibility”

Unit 9: Terrorist Cells

Bowman (2013) “U.S. Faces Fight at Intersection of Crime and Extremism” [Podcast]

Krebs (2002) “Mapping Networks of Terrorist Cells”

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Unit 10: Conspiracies

& Trust

Baker & Faulkner (1993) “The Social Organization of Conspiracy”

Dupont (2014) “Skills and Trust: A Tour inside the Hard Drives of Computer Hackers”

Unit 11: Homicide

Papachristos & Wildeman (2014) “Network Exposure and Homicide Victimization in an African American Community”

This American Life. 2013. “Harper High School, Part One” [Podcast]

This American Life. 2013. “Harper High School, Part Two” [Podcast]

Unit 12: Conclusion to

Criminal Networks

Christakis & Fowler (2009) “The Whole is Great”

Kennedy (2012) “After a Horrific Summer of Murder, Chicago Trying a Bold New Approach”

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References Andreas, Peter. 2013. Smuggler Nation: How Illicit Trade Made America. New York: Oxford University Press. Baker, Wayne E. and Robert R. Faulkner. 1993. “The Social Organization of Conspiracy: Illegal Networks

in the Heavy Electric Equipment Industry.” American Sociological Review 58(6):837-60. Becker, Howard S. 1953. “Becoming a Marihuana User.” American Journal of Sociology 59(3):235-42. Bowman, Tom. 2013. “U.S. Faces Fight at Intersection of Crime and Extremism.” National Public Radio

Morning Edition. Retrieved May 5, 2013 (http://www.npr.org/2013/04/30/179298793/u-s-faces-fight-at-intersection-of-crime-and-extremism).

Christakis, Nicholas A. and James H. Fowler. 2009. Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives. New York: Little, Brown and Company.

Dupont, Benoit. 2014. “Skills and Trust: A Tour inside the Hard Drives of Computer Hackers.” Pp. 195-217 in Crime and Networks, edited by C. Morselli. New York: Routledge.

Kadushin, Charles. 2012. Understanding Social Networks: Theories, Concepts, and Findings. New York: Oxford University Press. Kennedy, David M. 2012. “After a Horrific Summer of Murder, Chicago Trying a Bold New Approach.”

The Daily Beast. Retrieved September 28, 2012 (http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/09/28/after-a-horrific-summer-of-murder-chicago-trying-a-bold-new-approach.html).

Krebs, Valdis E. 2002. “Mapping Networks of Terrorist Cells.” Connections 24(3):43-52. McCord, Joan and Kevin P. Conway. 2005. “Co-Offending and Patterns of Juvenile Crime.” NIJ Research in

Brief. Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice. Retrieved April 17, 2014 (https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/210360.pdf).

Papachristos, Andrew V. 2005. “Gang World.” Foreign Policy 147:48-55. Papachristos, Andrew V. and Chris M. Smith. 2014. “The Embedded and Multiplex Nature of Al Capone.”

Pp. 97-115 in Crime and Networks, edited by C. Morselli. New York: Routledge. Papachristos, Andrew V. and Christopher Wildeman. 2014. “Network Exposure and Homicide

Victimization in an African American Community.” American Journal of Public Health 104(1):143-50. Piquette, Jenny C., Chris M. Smith, and Andrew V. Papachristos. 2014. “Social Network Analysis of

Urban Street Gangs.” Pp. 4981-91 in Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Vol. 62, edited by G. J. N. Bruinsma and D. L. Weisburd. New York: Springer.

Sutherland, Edwin H. [1947] 2008. “A Theory of Crime: Differential Association.” Pp. 223-5 in Crime Readings, 3rd ed., edited by R. D. Crutchfield, C. E. Kubrin, G. S. Bridges and J. G. Weis. Los Angeles, CA: Sage Publications.

This American Life. 2013. “Harper High School, Part One.” February 15. Chicago, IL: WBEZ. Retrieved April 15, 2014 (http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/487/harper-high-school-part-one).

This American Life. 2013. “Harper High School, Part Two.” February 22. Chicago, IL: WBEZ. Retrieved April 15, 2014 (http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/488/harper-high-school-part-two).

Zhang, Sheldon. 2014. “Snakeheads and the Cartwheel Network: Functional Fluidity as Opposed to Structural Flexibility.” Pp. 116-30 in Crime and Networks, edited by C. Morselli. New York: Routledge.