The problems and promise of juvenile justice in terms of the juvenile code and court, law enforcement, custodial and treatment institutions and community treatment. Examination of sociocultural and political factors shaping criminality and responses to crime around the world. Similarities and differences in criminogenic conditions and practices of law enforcement and corrections are traced. Examination of theories of crime and criminality. Major topic areas include types of theories, the development and testing of theories, explanations of the kinds and degrees of crime observed in society and explanations of the processes involved in the development of criminal behavior.
Emphasis is on current directions in theories of crime.
Examination of the roles, structures and functioning of institutional corrections within the United States. Emphasis is placed on understanding the philosophies, elements, structures and programs that shape current institutional operations and their impact on offenders, staff and the community. Traditional correctional functions are redefined to emphasize the development of resources in communities, diversion of convicted offenders from institutions and direct involvement of correctional programs in community affairs. Supervised readings or independent research projects in various aspects of crime control, treatment of offenders and the management of criminal justice programs and agencies. May be repeated up to a maximum of three credit hours.