POL 4607: The Politics of Punishment
4 advanced liberal arts credits
This advanced undergraduate course provides an overview of the history and current state of incarceration and detention globally, with a special focus on the United States. It covers prominent theories, methodologies, and ideologies behind punitive practices across cultures, as well as the numerous social and historical issues that intersect with contemporary imprisonment. The course will explore the social, economic, and political factors that have contributed to the rapid growth of prisons and detention facilities and hindered reform efforts. We will analyze current custodial practices, social scientific research on prison policies, as well as alternatives to incarceration. The course will also examine the impact of imprisonment on incarcerated individuals, their families, and communities. The course will challenge students to critically examine who qualifies as a criminal and what social functions the prison serves. Through interdisciplinary readings, documentary films, and first-hand encounters with prison facilities, students will explore how structures of power related to class, gender, sexuality, nationality, and ability shape our ideas of criminality.
Prerequisites: Any combination of 2 Intermediate Liberal Arts (CSP, LTA, HSS)