Abolitionist Approaches to Systems that Control and Punish

Catalog description

This course is grounded in anti-carceral feminism and, as such, values the voices of people with lived experience, multiple forms of knowledge, and diverse forms of expertise. Furthermore, this course is approached through a historical and contemporary lens, drawing on the work of activists and social movements such as racial justice and disability justice and the lessons social work can use for their work with people as they encounter the criminal legal system. The course begins with an introduction to the logic of carceral institutions and the criminal legal system as it stands today. Students will then explore the historical roots of carceral feminism and how social work has supported the integration of carceral punishment into social institutions, systems, and services. Students will learn about existing anti-carceral policies, services, and interventions that draw on mutual aid, transformative justice, and community accountability.