Class Notes on Environmental Crime, Research Expectations, and Class Structure

Last meeting of the group before the paper deadline at midnight next Tuesday.
The professor engages students with light humor to alleviate pre-deadline anxiety.

There is a last class scheduled on December 2nd; classes started on a Wednesday, leading to this scheduling.
The professor has material prepared from guest speakers about topics of international crime that will be integrated into the next sessions.
Overview of the content being merged: international crime and transitional justice, which will follow a single PowerPoint presentation after today's class.
Plans to possibly conclude a week early, potentially offering an optional review session on Zoom.

Open floor for students' final questions about the research table and expectations.
Clarification that any major queries should have been raised throughout the term, including details of the paper.

Concerns about essay length and cohesiveness discussed; common issues noted where students submit overly concise papers (e.g., three-paragraph essays).
Importance of paragraph structure highlighted: the professor emphasizes filling out the middle sections successfully instead of overly summarizing.
Acknowledgment of subjective grading despite the presence of rubrics; differentiation between C-level and A-level work is critical in the integration of sources and quality of writing.

Students encouraged to use at least five relevant and high-quality sources with proper integration into their essays, migrating away from bare minimum citations.
Recommendations for clarity and flow in writing; an essay should present a coherent argument and seamlessly integrate quotes from various sources.
The importance of clarity and logical progression in writing, as evaluators look for logical flow in text.

Professor available for office hours to assist students with papers the week prior to the due date.
Solicitation for students to arrive early for help due to potential for crowds.

Recent news about federal prisons’ inadequacy to provide mental health care highlights ongoing issues; Ivan Zinger's article noted as critical for understanding current prison concerns.
Zinger's commentary reflects on past and present governmental neglect concerning correctional health services, touching on broader themes of political accountability in mental health provision.

The professor transitions to today's subject: environmental crime, particularly state and corporate environmental offenses.
Discussion of societal invisibility of state corporate crime and how traditional criminal justice often focuses on street crime instead.
Critique towards mainstream criminology noted; it fails to recognize crimes committed by powerful entities, reinforcing definitions shaped by those in power.

Theoretical references to Tom's and Hilliard's work stressing that crime lacks ontological reality, meaning it is socially constructed.
Differences in understanding based on who possesses the societal power to influence crime definitions.

Mainstream criminology propagates a 'myth of crime' emphasizing interpersonal violence and neglecting corporate and environmental harm.
Discussion on the make-up of crime narratives, presenting violent crime as prevalent due to media focus, which distorts public perception of actual crime rates.
Emphasis on the need to move from a legalist definition of crime to one that incorporates harm into the understanding of crime for future studies.

Expansion of criminological research to include harm; defining social harm as impact on a group due to legal (or illegal) actions by corporations, suggesting that many socially harmful acts go unpunished.
Discussion of harms caused to vulnerable populations and environments through state and corporate actions.
Consideration of Edwin Sutherland's legacy regarding white-collar crime and call for broader definitions to encompass regulatory violations.

The relationship between environmental integrity and basic human rights emphasized, with references to the sustainable enjoyment of life.
Environmental degradation compromises essential human rights; this interconnectedness stressed in the context of both human and environmental health.

Definitions of environmental crimes including illegal wildlife trade, illegal dumping of waste, corporate pollution, etc., exemplify the often legal yet harmful actions of corporations.
Discussion includes case studies like the Bhopal disaster to illustrate the intersections between corporate negligence and state complicity.

The session aims to provoke critical thinking around the issue of environmental crime and state complicity while addressing necessary transitions in criminological perspectives.
Call to broaden awareness of environmental issues as serious harms reflecting the inversion of crime narratives.