Description Of The Project: I created a game using a chess board (Rich vs Poor) (White vs Black) In the Justice System. The Object of the game is to move through the Justice System. In the end the poor loses and most of the inmates on the rich side are released. The poor (black pieces) starts out with $30 and the rich (white pieces) starts with $85.00. The crimes and definition of squares landed on are under each piece. The King: only moves one sq at a time, $6 per move and the crime committed was murder 1st degree. The Queen: Moves forward, Backwards, sideways and diagonally, $5 per sq and the crime is manslaughter (two steps below murder 1st degree). The Bishop: Only moves diagonally, $3 per sq and the Crime is Illegal possession of firearm. The Rook: moves backwards, sideways and forward, $2 per sq and the crime is Vehicular Homicide. The Knight: Moves L shape $4 per sq and the crime is Armed Robbery. The Pawns: only forward and $1 per sq. Small crimes like possession of Marijuana or 3rd DUI. Jail Means: Went to Trail and lost, You have Plea Bargain, Release and Release plus fine.
List of Ideas: Theoretical Idea #1 “Because their criminal or disapproved behavior is ascribed to moral shortcomings, the poor people who resort to it are often classified as unworthy or undeserving”. (Introductory Sociology Reader by R. Hensley and R. Castro, p.228: idea by Herbert J. Gans)
Theoretical Idea #2 “By using the Sociological imagination, we learn how social, historical, cultural, economic, and political factors influence the factors influence the choices that people make and how they live their lives”. (Introductory Sociology Reader by Hensley and R. Castro, p. 8: idea by C. Wright Mills)
Theoretical Idea #3 “The poor are more likely than wealthy to be arrested, charged and convicted of crimes”. (Introductory Sociology Reader by Hensley and R. Castro, p 160: idea by Jeffrey Reiman)
Theoretical Idea #4 “The idea that relatively fixed group of privileged people might shape the economy and government for their own benefits goes against American grain”. (Introductory Sociology Reader by Hensley and R. Castro, p 370: idea by William Domhoff)
Theoretical Idea #5 “The importance of disobedience as a strategy for resisting power”. (Experience Sociology by D. Croteau and W. Hoynes, p. 119)
Theoretical Idea #6 ” Max Weber argued that society is stratified in terms of class, status, and political power.” ( Experience Sociology by D. Crotea and W. Hoynes, p. 123: Idea by Max Weber)
Theoretical Idea #7 ” We are talking about a need to be hopeful, more committed, more dedicated to the basic challenges living in a complex world.” (Ted.com/We need to talk about injustice: Idea by Bryan Stevenson)
Theoretical Idea #8 “Power determines whether and how authorities enforce norms and punish deviance”. (Experience Sociology by D. Crotea and W. Hoynes, p. 204)
Theoretical Idea #9 “The Criminal Justice System, which is designed to prevent crime and apprehend and punish those who commit crimes is a powerful agent of social control”. (Experience Sociology by D. Crotea and W. Hoynes, p. 206)
Theoretical Idea #10 “Whoever makes the rules for society gets to influence the direction of that society.” (Experience Sociology by D. Crotea and W. Hoynes, p. 443)
How did I make this? I love games and I love having fun in creating something others can enjoy while learning something new. This game I created is only a visual of the inside corruption of the Justice System. It’s not something that could be sold on the market for others to play. This game Idea helped me to organize the Theoretical Idea’s for everyone to see.
My Advice to others: Have fun! Take notes during class and as you do your readings. Knowing we do projects in this class begin thinking out of the box of things you can create to help others to learn and better understand the Idea’s talked about in each reading.