Presentation list for Sociology 589

This course will be driven by student presentations and research.
Presenters MUST HAVE assigned readings posted for the class
on the mailing list or placed on library reserve AT LEAST one
week in advance of the class. Two weeks lead-time is preferable.
Ideally, readings can be obtained ONLINE from J-Store or other net sources.

(THE FOLLOWING IS PRELIMINARY and will be completed after the first
week of class, once we see how many people are enrolled).

JANUARY 21 - Explaining Crime and Criminals
(NOTE: NO CLASS - Martin Luther King Holiday, but you still must read:
GUIDING QUESTION: Is "Criminal Justice" a bourgoise concept?

JANUARY 28 - Explaining crime
GUIDING QUESTION: What does theory have to do with it?






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FEBRUARY 4 - Criminal Law 
GUIDING QUESTION: Laws: A Social Construct?





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FEBRUARY 11 - History of Police 
GUIDING QUESTION: Are police really necessary?





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February 18 - Police functions and culture
GUIDING QUESTION: "Police: forces of occupation" or "public servants?"
(or: "What are the critical issues in policing?"




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February 25 - The Rule of Law 
GUIDING QUESTION: The Constitution: Does it hamper law enforcement?






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MARCH 3 - Courts: A history 
GUIDING QUESTION: What are the social bases of our roots?





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MARCH 10 - SPRING BREAK 
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MARCH 17 - Court Personnel 
GUIDING QUESTION: Loose Coupling or what?





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MARCH 24 - The Prosecution Process 
GUIDING QUESTION: Injustice: "Rich get richer and the poor get screwed?"





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31 - Sentencing and such 
GUIDING QUESTION: What is the philosophy of punishment in the U.S?






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April 7 -  Prisons 





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APRIL 14:






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APRIL 21 - Restorative justice
GUIDING QUESTION: What is it and who cares?
READING: Tifft and Sullivan





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April 28- Opposing Ambitions          
GUIDING QUESTION: Idealism: Boon or Bane?
READING: Kleinman's Opposing Ambitions




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May 5 - Final Exam/Exercise