SOCIOL 363: Punishment & Corrections

This course provides a general overview of the American correctional system. The course will consider how society responds to crime by looking at approaches to punishment and corrections. The class will explore the history of punishment, the internal dynamics and workings of a prison, the experiences of both corrections officers and the individuals who are incarcerated, and the impact former inmates and our correctional systems have on our communities. Throughout the course, students will examine the issues that challenge corrections today including shifting societal expectations. The course considers a number of issues such as the history of penology; jails, prisons, and community-based supervision; the duties and discretion of correctional employees; and prisoner reentry.