Criminal Justice agencies and the decisions made by individuals working in the justice system have profound influences on society. The significance of this influence requires careful policy oversight and often produces calls for policy reform. This course provides an overview of the public policy process as it relates to issues of crime and criminal justice. Students will gain an understanding of the socio-political context of criminal justice policy, the process by which these policies are developed, and the challenges facing successful policy implementation and reform that are unique to criminal justice. The course will emphasize public policies designed to control or limit the behavior and discretionary decisions of criminal justice actors like police officers, prosecutors, and judges. Additionally, students will review and evaluate policies that have been designed to enhance the control, supervision, and processing of individuals in the criminal justice system. The course culminates with the completion of a formal written capstone project summarizing and evaluating a crime or criminal justice policy.

This course provides an overview of the role of communities in crime and criminal justice. The course begins by providing a foundation in community theory. Students will gain an understanding of the critical dimensions and attributes that define community. The course will emphasize how these critical community functions and dimensions are related to both crime and justice system responses to crime. The course will involve an examination of community-based theory and research, with a special emphasis on the criminology of place and how crime and justice system response patterns are embedded in particular social structures. Students will study the extent to which structural characteristics and social processes are related to crime. Finally, the course will examine how communities and the justice system can collaborate to promote public safety and produce more equitable justice system responses.