Course Title:
| Race, Crime, and Criminal Justice | |
Course Materials:
Walker, S., Spohn, C., & DeLone, M. (2007). The color of justice:Race,ethnicity, and crime in America (4th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Tonry, M. (1995). Malign neglect: Race, crime, and punishment in America. New York: Oxford University Press. | |
Course Description:
| CCJS 370 Race, Crime, and Criminal Justice (3) Prerequisite: CCJS 100 or CCJS 105. A historical and theoretical study of the role and treatment of racial/ethnic minorities in the criminal justice system. | |
Course Goals/Objectives:
The student will be expected to:
1. study the history of US race relations in connection with criminals, victims, and the criminal justice system
2. separate myth from reality regarding race, class, and crime using current research
3. critically evaluate and synthesize this research
4. examine the multitude of factors in the relationship between race, class, and crime
5. detail at least three theoretical explanations for the differential treatment of persons based on race in the criminal justice system
6 improve critical thinking
7. improve writing abilities throughout the duration of this course
8. connect recent news events, personal experience, and media coverage to materials covered in class
9. appreciate the global nature of this problem, as well as the problem's enormity
10. devise potential strategies for resolving this problem
11. reevaluate his/her own attitudes toward this problem
12. study the role of the courts, the ACLU, and the Civil Rights Movement in perpetrating/rectifying disparities in treatment of minority criminal defendants | |
Course Introduction:
| Consider the following: 1) nearly half of all prisoners in the US are African-American; 2) 17.5% are Hispanic; and 3) 40% of death row inmates and 53% of all people executed since 1930 are/have been African American. Thus, it is essential for any student of criminal justice (if not all academic disciplines) to study these disparities in treatment of racial minorities-both historically and contemporaneously--and to explore possible solutions to this worrisome problem. This course will include a balanced examination of theory and research, as well as discussion, film, and writing assignments. | |
Grading Information and Criteria:
|
Final grades will be based on student performance in the following:
Participation: 10%
Midterm Exam: 30%
Final Exam: 30%
Paper/project: 30%
A high grade on both examinations and papers/projects will reflect the student's full integration of the materials covered; superior oral/writing/reasoning skills; and active involvement with the subject matter.
Grade Scale:
A=90-100; B=80-89; C=70-79; D=60-69; F=below 60; FN=failure due to nonattendance | |
Other Information:
|
Project Descriptions:
| An 8-10 page term paper is required. A list of topics will be distributed the first week of class. Topic selection is due the second week of class. Note the guidelines for writing papers. Relevance to the topics of the course plus grasp of the topic are central among grading criteria. Writing style, grammar and punctuation are also part of the graded for this project. | |
Academic Policies:
Cases of plagiarism are handled consistent with current UMUC guidelines.
See the UMUC policies at the following URL:
http://www.umuc.edu/policy/ | |
Course Schedule:
|
Meeting Topic Assignment
Session 1
Race, Ethnicity, and Crime: The Present Crisis Walker: Chapter 1
Session 2
Malign Neglect Tonry: Chapter 1
Session 3
Victims and Offenders: Myths and Realities
About Crime Walker: Chapter 2
Session 4
Racial Disproportion in the Criminal Justice
System Tonry: Chapter 2
Session 5 Race, Ethnicity, Social Structure and Crime Walker: Chapter 3
Session 6
Justice on the Street?: The Police and Minorities Walker: Chapter 4
Session 7
The Courts: A Quest for Justice During the
Pretrial Process Walker: Chapter 5
Justice on the Bench?: Trial and Adjudication in
Adult and Juvenile Court Walker: Chapter 6
Session 8
Midterm Examination
Session 9
Race and Sentencing: In Search of Fairness and
Justice Walker: Chapter 7
Session 10
Social Adversity and Punishment Tonry: Chapter 6
Session 11
The Color of Death: Race and the Death Penalty Walker: Chapter 8
Session 12
Corrections: A Picture in Black and White Walker: Chapter 9
Session 13
Race and the War on Drugs Tonry: Chapter 3
Session 14
What Is to Be Done? Tonry: Chapter 7
Session 15 Presentations
Session 16
Final Examination | |
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