History of US Prisons ((4 Credits))

Catalog description

This study explores historical and contemporary topics and issues related to prisons and prison systems within the United States from Colonial times until the present day. The prison system and diverse prison populations in the United States is examined from a variety of perspectives and contexts including (but not limited to): The development of U.S. prison systems over time; Institutional and policy developments, reforms, discourses, and debates; Major events and people within U.S. prison history (escapes, ‘riots’, etc.,); Prisons and prisoners within American Popular Culture; Prison Cultures; Issues related to diverse prison populations (gender, race, age, class, sexual orientation, religion, etc.,); and Prisoners’ rights; Numerous social, economic and political circumstances leading up to and during America’s involvement in World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War and related interventions including Cambodia and Laos and their effects on the prison system; America’s interventions in South and Central America during the Reagan era and their relationships to the prison system; Some of the ways in the which the United States’ relationship changed with the rest of the world after the events of September 11, 2001.