Course Description

Course uses a sociological approach to examine the intersection of race and the criminal legal system in the United States from a historical perspective. Topics include criminal law, policing, sentencing, incarceration, and capital punishment in the U.S. between the 17th and 21st centuries.

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Athena Title

US History Race Crime Justice

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Prerequisite

SOCI 1101 or SOCI 1101E or SOCI 1101H or SOCI 2600 or permission of department

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Grading System

A - F (Traditional)

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Student learning Outcomes

• Students will develop a keen understanding of the historical relationship between race, inequality, and the American criminal legal system.
• Students will explore these topics further by critically evaluating how historical and contemporary social phenomena have shaped and continue to influence the system.
• Students will communicate about course theories, concepts, and themes using written and oral forms.

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Topical Outline

• 1. The Colonial Period
• 2. The Early Republic
• 3. The Antebellum Period
• 4. The Civil War and Reconstruction
• 5. The Jim Crow Era
• 6. The Rise of Mass Incarceration
• 7. The Era of Mass Incarceration to the Present

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Syllabus

Select Faculty / Instructor to download syllabus:   Thomas, Julia

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Public CV

Select a file to download:   Thomas, Julia

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