What is a crime? Who or what is a criminal? How do individuals and societies respond to crime? These are the key overarching questions that will structure this sociological introduction to criminology and criminal justice. We will begin by developing a shared foundation of key terms, concepts, empirical facts, and theoretical perspectives that are used to describe and analyze crime and punishment. We will then use this foundation to examine a set of real-world historical and contemporary “moments” as a vehicle for analyzing key challenges and possible futures currently facing communities and the criminal legal system, using the United States context as a case.

Units: 1

Max Enrollment: 24

Prerequisites: Not open to students who have taken SOC 238.

Distribution Requirements: SBA - Social and Behavioral Analysis

Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Fall; Spring