Lesson plan
Superpredator
announced that he would propose and support legislation that would give federal prosecutors "greater flexibility to try violent juveniles as adults". The superpredator or super-predator is a type of criminal in a now-discredited criminological theory that became popular in the 1990s in the United States, positing that a small but increasing population of impulsive (often urban) young men were willing to commit extremely violent crimes without remorse. Criminologist and political scientist John J. DiIulio Jr. theorized that superpredators were a growing phenomenon and predicted a large increase in youth crime and violence as a result. At the time, the idea of superpredators contributed to a nationwide moral panic regarding juvenile crime, particularly Black juvenile crime. Proponents of the theory warned of "a blood bath of violence" or "Lord of the Flies on a massive scale". American lawmakers seized on this idea, and implemented tough-on-crime legislation for juvenile offenders across the country, including life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The theory would later face criticism, which led to its supporters getting protested against for calling Black people superpredators and Dilulio having to admit that his theory was flawed.
Article summary
announced that he would propose and support legislation that would give federal prosecutors "greater flexibility to try violent juveniles as adults". The superpredator or super-predator is a type of criminal in a now-discredited criminological theory that became popular in the 1990s in the United States, positing that a small but increasing population of impulsive (often urban) young men were willing to commit extremely violent crimes without remorse. Criminologist and political scientist John J. DiIulio Jr. theorized that superpredators were a growing phenomenon and predicted a large increase in youth crime and violence as a result. At the time, the idea of superpredators contributed to a nationwide moral panic regarding juvenile crime, particularly Black juvenile crime. Proponents of the theory warned of "a blood bath of violence" or "Lord of the Flies on a massive scale". American lawmakers seized on this idea, and implemented tough-on-crime legislation for juvenile offenders across the country, including life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The theory would later face criticism, which led to its supporters getting protested against for calling Black people superpredators and Dilulio having to admit that his theory was flawed.
Key claims
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.