SOC3101H

This course introduces students to a sociological account of the U.S. criminal justice system. We will critically examine the components, dynamics, and effects of policing, criminal courts, community supervision, jails, and prisons. Throughout the course, we focus on sociological understandings of these processes, with particular attention to ethnic, racial, class, and gender inequalities as well as long-term problems associated with the high rate of criminal justice supervision in the U.S.

Additional special assignments will be discussed with honors participants who seek to earn honors credit toward the end of our first class session. Examples of additional requirements may include:
· Honor students will be expected to interview a current Sociology graduate student working on a LCD topic. Following this, each student will individually be expected to do an in-class power-point presentation explaining how the interviewees? research relates with themes presented in the course. Students will also be expected to meet as a group and individually with the professor four times during the course semester.
· Sign up and prepare 3-4 discussion questions in advance of at least one class session.
· Work with professor and TA on other small leadership tasks (class discussion, paper exchange, tour).
· Write two brief (1-page) reflection papers on current news, or a two-page critique of a class reading
· Attend a presentation, workshop, or seminar on a related topic for this class and write a 2 page maximum reflective paper.

prereq: [SOC 1001] recommended, Sociology majors/minors must register A-F, honors

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