Seminar in Criminal Justice Policy and Reform

Catalog description

Criminal Justice agencies and the decisions made by individuals working in the justice system have profound influences on society. The significance of this influence requires careful policy oversight and often produces calls for policy reform. This course provides an overview of the public policy process as it relates to issues of crime and criminal justice. Students will gain an understanding of the socio-political context of criminal justice policy, the process by which these policies are developed, and the challenges facing successful policy implementation and reform that are unique to criminal justice. The course will emphasize public policies designed to control or limit the behavior and discretionary decisions of criminal justice actors like police officers, prosecutors, and judges. Additionally, students will review and evaluate policies that have been designed to enhance the control, supervision, and processing of individuals in the criminal justice system. The course culminates with the completion of a formal written capstone project summarizing and evaluating a crime or criminal justice policy.