CJFS 3770 - Punishment, Corrections and Society

Goals: The objectives of this course are to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the issues and methods of punishment and social control used within American correctional practice and to review the empirical research assessing the effectiveness of correctional practice.

Content: This course examines theories of punishment and asks questions such as “Why do we punish and how much? Is punishment a deterrent for future criminal offending behavior? What are current correctional, sentencing, and punishment techniques being used in the United States and do they lead to a more just society? The course will also cover theories of punishment, the structure and operations of the U.S jail, prison, and correction systems, and explore current correctional policies and their impact on individuals and society.

Taught: Annually, fall

Prerequisite: CJFS 1120 or LGST 1110 or PSY 1330 or SOC 1110 or SOCJ 1100

Credits: 4