SOCI 6355 - Crime and Punishment

3 hrs

This course explores the central concepts of crime and punishment by asking two major questions: “Why do people commit crime?” and “How does society respond to crime?” Through in depth discussions, students will explore this important issue in contemporary America from a variety of disciplinary perspectives. In order to examine patterns of criminally, students will examine the nature of deviance and the theories used to explain these activities across various racial, class, and age groups. In order to examine the social responses to deviance, students will investigate how the “Deviance” and “Criminal” label is applied in various ways across segments of the population and time periods. Furthermore, together we will explore the impact of crime policy on individuals and society, e.g., voting outcomes, community, employment, wage growth, etc. The hope is that scholars will continue to develop critical thinking skills and broaden their understanding of criminality and social order in society.