This course will review the past, present, and potential futures of the US criminal legal system. Students will learn about sociological and criminological perspectives on crime, policing, courts, incarceration, substance use and mental health. We will also investigate historical and contemporary responses to the criminal legal system such as the Attica Prison Rebellion, Black Lives Matter, and other efforts to reform and transform punishment.
PROGRAM DATES
June 15 – July 12, 2025
PREREQUISITES
None
COURSE DRESS CODE
Business / Professional (see below in COURSE OVERVIEW)
DAILY SCHEDULE & ACTIVITIES
MONDAY – FRIDAY
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Classes in session
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lunch
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Classes in session
COURSE OVERVIEW
Highlights
- Sharpen your critical analysis skills
- Wrestle with questions like: What is a crime? Who is defined as a criminal? How are racial, class, and gender inequalities reproduced and exacerbated by the US system of punishment?
- Assess and articulate themes and issues presented through books, academic articles, podcasts, and documentaries
Topic of Study
- Major theories of crime and punishment
- History of mass incarceration
Dress Code
On our two field trips to the Los Angeles Superior courthouse and the Los Angeles Public Defender’s Office, we will be required to dress in business casual attire. Some examples of appropriate attire are: slacks, khakis, dark colored pants, polos, button down shirts, blouses, and knee-length or longer dresses and skirts. For shoes – loafers, flats, boots, or dress shoes are preferred but you may also wear dress sandals or darker colored sneakers.