Policing in Contemporary Society

Catalog description

This course provides a general overview of policing in the United States. The historical development of modern policing will be explored with an emphasis on the evolving relationships between police organizations, the justice system, and society at large. The role of the police in society, social and legal constraints on police practice, policy reform, and the relationship between police and communities will be discussed. Throughout the course students will interrogate the tension that exists between police authority, efforts to address public safety, and the need to uphold individual liberties and ethical expectations.