CRJU 4720 - Law, Justice & Social Change

3 Credit Hours

Description
This course utilizes sociological perspectives to examine the sources and uses of law in the criminal justice system and society. Students will explore what law is using a variety of theoretical perspective. In addition, they will examine law as a dependent variable, paying special attention to social and political forces that are exerted on the law. The influence of law on the operation of the legal system also will be reviewed, with some focus on the actors in the system: police, prosecutors. The course concludes with an examination of the impact of law on society, or law as an independent variable. Specific cases will be reviewed throughout the course.