Kaden Paulson Smith, PhD they/them/theirs

Examines Crime and Justice Studies as a multidisciplinary field of study that bridges criminology, criminal justice, and justice studies. Students engage with a variety of histories, policies, procedures, and politics that inform how crime and justice are constructed within U.S. transnational and intersectional contexts. Areas of analysis include state-making, citizenship, social control, criminality, surveillance and security, war, rights and law, revolution, prison writing, nonviolence, collective justice, and abolitionism.

Introduction to the American criminal justice system. The course will discuss the core components of the criminal justice system, including law enforcement, courts, and corrections. Throughout the course, students will learn about the relationship between these components and the challenges that the criminal justice system currently faces.

The history of criminology through a study of the theorists who comprise the field's three dominant schools of thought: Classical Criminology, Positivism and Critical Criminology. Students will be introduced to critical deconstructions of each paradigm through a fourth school of thought: Anti-Colonial Criminology. The historical and political contexts of each theory and theorist will be emphasized to highlight the impact criminology has on policy, society and human relations.

Directed readings and analysis in selected topics.

Selected topics of contemporary relevance in the field of Crime and Justice studies. Active discussions, mini-lectures, filed simulations, student presentations, role-playing, guest speakers, and field observations may be utilized. A significant research project will be required.

Selected topics of contemporary relevance in the field of Crime and Justice studies. Active discussions, mini-lectures, filed simulations, student presentations, role-playing, guest speakers, and field observations may be utilized. A significant research project will be required.