Race, Class, and Punishment

Catalog description

There are currently over two million people behind bars in the United States, making up the largest prison system in the world. Racial minorities and the poor are disproportionately imprisoned, causing some to argue that the problem of mass incarceration is one of the greatest social injustices of our time. In this course we will analyze the role of race and class in explaining the rise of mass incarceration and debate different approaches to solving this social justice crisis. Students will explore larger questions about political institutions, policymaking, political culture, social movements and the history of American political development.