Crime and Justice in a Diverse Society

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For more information and to register visit the Office of Micro-Credentials

Course Requirements

Crime and Justice Core (3 credits)

SOC 211LEC - Sociology of Diversity Credits: 3

Two SOC Electives (6 credits)

SOC 317LEC - Criminal Justice Systems Credits: 3
SOC 319LEC - Juvenile Justice Credits: 3
SOC 337LEC - Sociology of Punishment Credits: 3
SOC 343LEC - Gender & Crime Credits: 3
SOC 357LEC - Race, Crime, & Criminal Justice Credits: 3

5 page paper

A 5 page paper that address one of the following topics and cites at least 5 academic readings from the crime and justice in a diverse society coursework:

What is the relationship between social stratification/inequality and criminal behavior? How does the criminal justice system increase or decrease inequality in a diverse society?
How do categories of diversity intersect and create complex institutional inequalities and advantages in the criminal justice system?
Describe how race influences decisions made by actors in the criminal justice system - in juries, sentencing, the death penalty, and / or mass incarceration. In addition, describe the impact that the criminal justice system has on families and communities of color.
How is gender relevant to theory and research about the causes of crime? Do men and women commit different acts of crime? Are (potential) causes of crime by men and by women different? Are the same forms of control/punishment/rehabilitation appropriate for men and for women? Why or why not? How do transgender prisoners challenge or require reconsideration of gendered practices in the criminal justice system?
Identify a current problem in our systems of crime and justice. Describe the problem. How are issues of diversity related to this problem? Draft a plan that would address the problem.

The paper abstract will be embedded as evidence in the digital badge.

Total Credits Required for Micro-Credential: 9

Academic Requirements

Complete (with a B or better) SOC 211LEC - Sociology of Diversity .

Learning Outcomes

Think critically and sociologically about crime and criminality.
Describe and assess how discrimination and oppression impact the lives of people of color and other marginalized populations in the United States.
Describe how categories of diversity intersect or connect with each other, creating complex identities and perspectives.
Understand how social inequality, including class, race, and gender inequalities, relate to crime and criminality.
Identify and understand the theories, methods, and findings of key research conducted by criminologists.
Understand causal theories of crime, deviance, and/or juvenile delinquency, and the issues related to defining, measuring, and explaining crime, deviance, and/or delinquency.
Apply sociological concepts from the crime and justice in a diverse society coursework in writing an integrative paper.