Historical Perspectives In Criminal Justice

Curriculum guideline

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Course
CRIM 1121
Discontinued
No
Course code
CRIM 1121
Descriptive
Historical Perspectives In Criminal Justice
Department
Criminology
Faculty
Humanities & Social Sciences
Credits
3.00
Start date
End term
201420
PLAR
No
Semester length
15
Max class size
35
Contact hours
Lecture: 4 hours per week / semester
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Learning activities

Lecture

 

Field Study: The Instructor may undertake field trips to historical prison sites and courts in the US, Canada and other jurisdictions as determined.

 

Film and Web-based Resources

Course description
A historical review of society's reaction to crime and deviance and the continued pattern of the operation of the criminal justice system in Europe and North America over the centuries. The course relates this history to various political, legal, social, theoretical, philosophical movements and schools of thought. The development of the criminal law is traced through the development of the police institution, the courts, and the birth of the prison and other secure institutions designed to control the deviant. Consideration of the history, transformation and evolution of punishment and imprisonment practice that seemingly molds itself independent of actual crime, criminality and perceived deviancy in society. In-depth examination of historical forces influencing the development, implementation, and modification of criminal justice approaches.
Course content

Lecture and Reading:

 

  1. Perpetuating the class system: The Development of Criminal Law; Emergence of Criminal Law in Ancient Times (Athens & Rome); Emergence of Criminal Law in Medieval Times / The Dark Ages; Emergence of Criminal Law in America and Canada.
  2. The Development of the Police Institution in England (the Metropolitan Police of London, Sir Robert Peel); Development of the Police Institution in the United States; the Police Institution in the 20th Century; The Development of the Police Institution in Canada (the North West Mounted Police and The RCMP).
  3. The American Court System; The Colonial System; The Canadian Court System; Modern Innovative Courts (The Community Court Model).
  4. The Jail; The Workhouse; The Emergence and Growth of the Prison System; The Rise of the Prison in America and Canada; The 20th Century Prison (Federal and Provincial); Prison Industry; The Rise of the Mental Institution (Correction and Control of the Deviant Ill).
  5. The Emergence of the Juvenile Justice System.
  6. The History of Women’s Prisons and Women’s Reformatories; 20th Century Women’s Prisons.
  7. Crime Control in the New Millennium; Innovation or Regressive Practice?

 

Field Study:  One or more tours to a historical location relevant to the course content.

Learning outcomes

At the conclusion of the course the student will be able to:

 

  1. Discuss the importance of politics in any consideration of crime and criminal justice development.
  2. Describe the issues of “freedom and liberty” as they relate to the deviant in a democratic and capitalist society.
  3. Describe historical evidence and the persistence of classism, racism and sexism in European, American and Canadian culture and the notion of the “criminal class”.
  4. Identify political and legal forces that changed the attitudes of inequality as set out in point #3.
  5. Describe the ways in which religious values and themes have shaped criminal justice issues and practices.
  6. Demonstrate in writing an in-depth understanding of the historical strategies and “solutions” to criminality of the past, real or perceived.
  7. Identify and articulate current-day problems based on an accurate knowledge of the historical development of criminal justice approaches.
  8. Apply academic research skills for the literature review portion of the required term paper.
  9. Compare and contrast 20th century correctional and criminal justice practice with innovative approaches to criminal justice in the new millennia.
Means of assessment

Evaluation will be based on the course objectives and carried out in accordance with Douglas College policy.   The instructor will provide a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the course.  Evaluation will be based on the following:

  1. Examinations: midterm and final
  2. Class participation
  3. Term paper, project or presentation

 An example of a possible evaluation scheme would be:

Mid term  30%
Final  30%
Term paper  30%
Class participation     10%
Total 100%

      

Textbook materials

Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students:

 

Shelden, R.G., Controlling the Dangerous Classes: A History of Criminal Justice in America. 2nd ed. (2008).               Boston. Pearson.  

Additional readings as determined by course instructor.