American Correctional System

Catalog description

Study of corrections from probation, intermediate punishment, adult and juvenile correctional institutions to parole. CRIM 430 American Correctional System (3) This course examines the correctional system from the sentencing decision to reentry or release from the correctional system. The course focuses on the choices that decision-makers face in sentencing, classification and responding to violations by offenders as well as the problems that offenders face as they confront their treatment/punishment. As part of the analysis the course explores the persistent conflicting expectations that society imposes on our correctional system and the effectiveness of the system in rehabilitating, deterring and incapacitating offenders. This course expands on the brief introduction of the topic in CRIM/ CRIMJ 100 and relies on the student's understanding of social science research developed in CRIM/ CRIMJ 250W to critically analyze what we know about corrections. This course provides the opportunity for students to study in depth a major component of the criminal justice system and is one of five classes students may select from to meet a major core course requirement.