Criminal Justice

This class focuses on a sociological understanding of deviance. We will explore how both culture and structure may shape the prevalence, definition and reaction to deviance. Various theoretical perspectives will be examined and discussed to see how deviance may be both understood and even perhaps predicted. Finally, a number of more "concrete" areas will be examined, to both see how the theory holds up in real life, and to deepen the understanding of deviance and attempts at social control of deviance. (4 credits)

This course provides an introduction to the criminal justice system. Theprimary goal of this course is to develop a general understanding of thecriminal justice system?s response to crime in society. It is important tonote the general theme of this course involves the delicate balance betweencommunity interests and individual rights that criminal justice decisionmaking requires. This theme is explored by examining the criminal justiceprocess in some detail, focusing on how the system is structured to respondto crime. This requires an understanding of the core elements of thecriminal justice system: police, courts, and corrections. (4 credits;alternate years, consult department)

This course is a survey of the field of criminology. It examines the nature,location, and impact of crime in the United States by exploring a broadrange of issues related to criminology. Topics include the theoreticalunderpinnings of criminality, how we measure criminal acts, the developmentof criminal careers, the various typologies of offenders and victims, and acritical analysis of public policies concerning crime control in society. (4credits; alternate years, consult department)

A discussion of myths and facts leading toward an understanding of many social problems, such as sexual deviance, drugs and alcohol, health care and illness (physical and mental), crime and delinquency, violence, wealth and poverty, inequality of opportunity, work, aging, sex inequality, racial minorities and discrimination, education, family problems, war, pollution, ecology and population. Emphasis is placed upon difficulties in defining, critiquing and proposing meaningful solutions.(4 credits)

(4 credits)(IGE option under Cross-Cultural Engagement) This coursedevelops a sociological perspective on ethnicity, power, and identity.Sociologists frequently seek to balance an emphasis on both the generalpatterns that we observe across social phenomena and the uniqueness ofeach specific case. The primary goal of this course is not simply learnthe characteristics of specific historically marginalized populations.Instead, this course will seek to answer the question: What is therelationship between power, ethnicity, and identity? Our readings anddiscussions will shed light upon this question from differentperspectives. Along the way, we will also draw upon learning materialsthat address the unique historical situations of specific groups as theyendure and struggle against power imbalances (for example, the AfricanAmerican Civil Rights Movement).

This course will provide an introduction to policing and law enforcement andwill include a history of policing, police-community relations, policeoperational and administrative practices and an examination of importanttrends, issues, and limitations issues facing law enforcement today. Thecourse will also examine police behaviors and attitudes, police culture, andhow officers exercise discretion. (4 credits; alternate years, consultdepartment)

Evolution of and debates concerning community and non-community based correctional programs, relationships between correcting, reforming, rehabilitating, and punishing, tensions between protection of public safety and rights of the accused, evaluation of incarceration, probation, parole, diversion, alternate and restorative justice programs, issues in "proactive" and "reactive" debate. Prerequisites: SOC218 and 303. Recommend general education writing requirement. (4 credits, alternate years, consult department)

No course description available.

This course focuses on restorative conceptions of justice related to thecriminal justice system. It places justice in the context of social healthrather than only in relation to punishment or criminality. Prominent is theconcept of restoring social rights and order threatened by harm to victims,society, and offender. A key goal of restorative justice is to repair harmand restore relationships broken by crime and other wrongdoings. It alsorecognizes the perspective of the survivors of various crimes and seeks tobring about healing through attempted reconciliation. Crucial conversationsare core to the change process through both victim offender dialogue andmotivational interviewing. (4 credits; alternate years, consult department)