Crime, Justice, and Community

Catalog description

This course provides an overview of the intersection between local communities, crime, and justice system responses and policies. The course begins by providing a foundation in community theory. Students will gain an understanding of the critical dimensions and attributes that define community. The course will emphasize how these critical community functions and dimensions are related to both crime and justice system responses to crime. The course will involve an examination of community-based theory and research, with a special emphasis on the criminology of place and how crime and justice system response patterns are embedded in particular social structures. Students will study the extent to which structural characteristics and social processes are related to crime. Throughout the course, community justice will be emphasized; how can communities and the justice system collaborate to promote public safety and produce more equitable justice system and community responses?