This course will focus on the complicated relationships between law
and other social phenomena, for example, why rampage school
shootings always occurred at small rural communities; how
journalistic photography portrays criminals and “criminogenic
environments/communities” in the U.S. and in China.

We will start with Donald Black’s The Behavior of Law, which sets up
the overall framework for this course. It looks back how law evolves
through different historical phases, what are related to the changes
of law and punishment, and most importantly, in what ways the
interaction between law and other social control systems varies over
time and across places.

Literatures on law and spiritual life, law and social networks, law
and science and technology, law and arts, law and mass media, and so
on, will be introduced in this class. The purpose of literature
review is to establish connection between law/legal system and other
social control systems. As we go along with these literatures, we
will discuss the following questions: who are controlled? Through
what means is social control sustained and reproduced outside legal
system? What kind of roles does law play in those non-legal
systems?

Grading Criteria

1 Take-Home Midterm Paper: 30%
2 In-Class Quizzes, 15% each: 30%
1 Take-Home Final Exam: 40%

Course Materials

1.	One Text Books Required:

Author: 	Black, Donald J.

Title: 	The behavior of law / Donald Black.
Published: 	New York : Academic Press, c1976.
Description: 	xi, 175 p. ; 24 cm.
Notes: 	Includes indexes.
	Bibliography: p. 139-164.

2. E-Reserve: readings from various sources will be made available
each week.
3. Movies, photographs, and other visual presentations will be
brought into class.

Class meeting: Daily 09:30-10:20

Instructor: Karen Li, criminal justice department