CRCJ 3380 POWER, PERCEPTION, AND PUNISHMENT (3 credits)
This course examines how social attitudes and institutional structures influence the administration of justice in the United States. Students will explore how factors such as economic hardship, neighborhood decline, exposure to violence, and family disruption - often through incarceration - can contribute to long-term social and behavioral challenges. Students will also study the involvement of various racial and ethnic groups in the justice system, including their roles as victims, offenders, defendants, and professionals. Through the use of research and case studies, students will evaluate the broader consequences of these patterns and consider practical responses to improve outcomes within the justice system.
Prerequisite(s): CRCJ 1010, ENGL 1150, and 45 credit hours; OR instructor permission. Not open to non-degree graduate students.
Distribution: U.S. Diversity General Education course