Law Homework Help

analyze the murder trial of Edward Lee Elmore from two theoretical perspectives (as discussed in Raymond Bonner’s Anatomy of Injustice).

A case study is a factual description of events that actually happened in the past.  This case study offers an  opportunity  to  explore  how  different  criminological  theories  offer  distinct  insights  into  crime, criminality and the criminal justice system.  Raymond Bonner’s Anatomy of Injustice: A Murder Case Gone Wrong is an in-depth description of the murder of Mrs. Dorothy Edwards (an elderly wealthy widow) and the subsequent prosecution of Mr. Edward Lee Elmore (a poor semi-literate Black man). 

Your assignment is to write a theoretical analysis of the events described in Anatomy of Injustice. 

1.    Choose two critical criminological theories from the following list:  conflict theory, left realism, radical criminology, feminist criminologies, critical race criminology, postmodern/constitutive criminologies, or cultural criminologies.

2.    Identify  a  key  issue  or  event  from  Bonner’s  book  (e.g.,  the  unsolved  murder  of  Mrs.  Edwards,  the impact  of  racial  bias  on  the  trial,  prosecutorial  discretion,  media  coverage  of  the  trial).  You  should provide  a  description  of  specific  issue(s)  or  event(s)  that  you  are  analyzing.    Merely  writing  about ‘what happened to Elmore” is too vague.

3.    Use key theoretical concepts (e.g., definitions of crime, explanations of causation, etc.) to discuss (i.e., analyze, critique, define, explain) the issues/problems identified.

Introduction 

Your introduction must contain your thesis, a brief summary of your argument and a very brief description (i.e., 1-3 sentences) of the relevant event or issue on which your paper will focus.

Description of Theoretical Concepts 1 Identify and explain the key theoretical concepts from your chosen theory. Your description should demonstrate that you have more than a superficial knowledge of the theory. 

Analysis Using Theory 1 Connect the theory to relevant facts from the Elmore case. Explain why your chosen theory focuses on particular facts. Include a description of the empirical support for the theory.

Description of Theoretical Concepts 2 Identify and explain the key theoretical concepts from your chosen theory. Your description should demonstrate that you have more than a superficial knowledge of the theory.

Analysis Using Theory 2 Connect the theory to relevant facts from the Elmore case. Explain why your chosen theory focuses on particular facts. Include a description of the empirical support for the theory. 

Conclusion In 1 – 2 paragraphs, provide concluding thoughts about theoretical insights into the case. Compare/contrast the insights provided by each theory. Do not merely summarize your paper or repeat your introduction

References: 

Sylvia Valenzuela, Paul Kaplan & Stuart Henry. Crime & Behavior (1st edition) (Cognella Academic Publishing 2014).

Raymond Bonner. Anatomy of Injustice: A Murder Case Gone Wrong (Vintage Books 2012).