Legal Studies 390PS - Punishment and Society

This course is an introduction to the study of punishment, focusing on its definitions, forms, justifications, and social consequences. We begin by exploring foundational theories of punishment and a historical overview of its development. In particular, we focus on the United States, criminal law, and imprisonment, while recognizing the many forms punishment takes (e.g., in civil law or via other penal institutions). Key questions include: What is ?punishment?? What social, economic, and political conditions give rise to punishment? We then examine the rise of mass incarceration in the U.S. and explore the operations of some penal institutions (courts and prisons), their process and the far-reaching consequences of punishment in our society. We will also explore alternatives to punishment, including alternatives to incarceration, decriminalization, and abolition. In the final section, we adopt a comparative approach, analyzing punishment across geopolitical contexts.

LEGAL 101