CRJ 422 Race, Class and Criminal Justice
This class will survey and critique the American Criminal Justice System from point of arrest and trial through sentencing and incarceration and discuss the significant ways that race and class play some part in every step of the process. Specifically, we will discuss the different rates of police contact, arrest, and incarceration for poor and minority communities in the United States, and both examine and challenge the various explanations given for this. Students will be exposed to different theories and learn to critically examine information they are given, with a continual emphasis on biblical concepts of impartiality, punishment and concern for the poor.