SOC231 - Criminology

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Academic Year 2000/2001

Criminology
SOC 231 FA

Polling data have consistently shown that Americans believe that crime in the U.S. is out of control--despite the fact that many types of crime, including violent offenses, have been relatively stable or have even decreased over the past several years. Such beliefs exert a powerful control over how people choose to live their lives: Women, for instance, may be less willing to venture outdoors at night. The fear of crime, too, can change our thinking about crime: Would you be more or less likely to support a "three strikes and you're out" crime policy based on your perceptions and experiences? Criminology is an exciting branch of sociology whereby criminologists attempt to scientifically study the making of laws, what happens when laws are broken, and how people react to the breaking of laws. As we move through the course, you will notice that criminological thought often blends both sociology and psychology together in its own pointed studies to explain why it is that people act the way they do.

MAJOR READINGS

Stephen Adler, THE JURY
Donald Black, THE BEHAVIOR OF LAW
Bill Buford, AMONG THE THUGS
Wendy Lesser, PICTURES AT AN EXECUTION
Coramae Richey Mann, WHEN WOMEN KILL
Toni Morrison and Claudia Brodsky Lacour, eds., BIRTH OF A NATION'HOOD: Gaze, script and spectacle in the O.J. Simpson Case.
Gini Sikes, 8 BALL CHICKS: A year in the violent world of girl gangsters.
Bruce Wright, BLACK ROBES, WHITE JUSTICE

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Two papers plus longer final research project.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Attendance is mandatory. If absent, must be accountable for information missed. No extensions on papers granted. Responsible for particular readings that will enable discussion built around class concerns. Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS SOC Grading Mode: Graded

Prerequisites: SOC151

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): Blackstone,Lee R.

Times: .M.W.F. 10:00AM-10:50AM; Location: PAC422

Reserved Seats: (Total Limit: 35)

SR. major: 7 Jr. major: 8

SR. non-major: 7 Jr. non-major: 8 SO: 5 FR: X

Special Attributes:

Curricular Renewal: Writing

Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-26-2001