Criminal Justice Policy

Catalog description

The criminal justice policy course will examine policies and theories that shape the criminal justice system from arrest to adjudication. This course will be rooted in critical race theory, with special attention paid to how the system deferentially affects people of color. We will also discuss how other populations are affected by the system, such as women and youth, and examine alternatives to current interventions. This is a data-driven, evidence-based course. Students will advocate for effective policies based on the current evidence and based on their own data analysis. Some comfort with statistics, statistical software, and data interpretation are required. Course readings will include scholarly work, legal documents, and grey literature.