Course Description: For the purpose of this class, systems of social
control are conceived as those structures through which individual
and collective social behavior at various levels of aggregation is
patterned (e.g. institutions and organizations, as well as
structures of economics, human ecology, and ideology). These systems
interact dynamically within, between and across types (overlapping,
reverberating, reinforcing, and even clashing with one another in
form, function, and operation). In that sense, they may be taken to
constitute a “system of systems” --- the structure of society. The
question this class seeks to address is how violence in society
depends upon the systems (and “systems of systems”) of social
control in effect. The class will progress through three major
sections:

First, as this is ultimately a class in alternatives, we must
initially begin with a cursory examination of “from what” what we
might turn, and why. Greatest emphasis here will be placed upon the
Western formal justice system, both in terms of our direct object of
critical examination as well as paradigmatic of other systems of
social control (which may then in turn be analogically examined),
and arguably thematic of the organization of Western societies.
Consideration of the history, philosophy, and practice of justice
will give way to a critical examination of issues of instrumentality
and functionality, which will proceed through a survey of the
critical criminological literatures, general research findings in
the field, and other relevant resources.

Second, the normative and theoretical content of the critical
criminologies then serve as the foundation for the question of “to
what” we may turn, and why. Here we will consider the alternative
ways in which order is maintained among social collectivities here
in the U.S., as well as draw upon comparative examinations of non-
Western societies’ systems of social control. Of particular interest
will be the indigenous justice “revivalist” movements among native
peoples around the globe, as well as the “restorative justice”
movement in the U.S. and the associated topics of victim-
inclusion/centeredness, VORP and mediation, community courts,
community policing, and the “new rehabilitation”.

Third, having discussed “from what” as well as “to what”…now what?
At issue here is the evaluation of current policy shifts and
innovations, as well as discussing policy prospects for alternatives
and how the crafting of policy may translate into more or less
effective solutions to the problems of crime and violence, in light
of the perspectives explored in the previous sections above.

Readings: To be announced

Requirements: Graded coursework will consist of short, weekly
writing assignments encouraging thoughtful/critical reaction to
course readings and lecture materials, as well as one or two
slightly longer essay-type pieces wherein students will be asked to
integrate and “distill” the content of prior weekly writings into a
more scholarly treatment of our subject matter in a more general
fashion. Grades will be calculated through a point system, wherein
weekly assignments (constituting the majority of the final grade)
will be weighted equally, with the periodic essays being given
somewhat more emphasis.

Class Meeting: 9:05-9:55A, TR, CH 001

Instructor: Ernest Nickels, Criminal Justice Department