The Causes and Consequences of Mass Incarceration

CCJS 418I

THE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF MASS INCARCERATION

TUESDAY 4-6:00

1101 ARC

Instructor: Charles Wellford

Office Hours: By appointment

Phone: 301-405-4701

E-mail: [email protected]

Course Purpose: Prerequisites for this course are CCJS 100, 105, 200, and 300. If you have not passed these courses you must withdraw from the course. This course is intended to provide advanced CCJS majors with an opportunity to explore, using the theories and tools of criminology, an issue related to incarceration. The course requires attendance for all classes and substantial participation in the course from all members. At the end of the course, students should be able to execute a research/policy analysis project and present the results to a professional audience.

Expectations: You should come to each class prepared to discuss the assigned readings and key issues addressed.

Textbook: Useem and Phiel, Prison State, University of Cambridge Press, 2008. Other readings will be distributed by the instructor. Each week you should have briefed at least one article or book discussed in the assigned reading for the week.

Grading: Your grade will be determined as follows:

Class participation: 20%

Exam: 20%

Paper 40%

Presentation 20%

Class participation will be based on the judgment of the instructor; the paper must be a minimum of 25 pages double spaced (normal margins with 12pt. font) not including references, tables, appendices or any other related attachments; the exam will be an in class, essay, closed books and notes test. Make- ups for the exam will be provided if the absence is an excused absence as defined by the campus attendance policy.

Special Issues: All students are required to follow the University’s Code of Conduct and Code of Academic Integrity. These can be found at www.president.umd.edu/policies.

Students with disabilities will be accommodated. Please see me to determine how I can assist you.

No later than the second week of classes (September 11) inform me of any class conflicts that are caused by religious observance or your representing the university. Course Schedule

Date Topic Assignment Sept. 4 Course, Instructor and Student None Introductions Sept. 11 History of corrections and U and P chapter 1 trends Sept. 18 Causes of current prison U and P Chapter 2 expansions Sept. 25 Prison conditions and U and P Chapter 4 overcrowding Oct. 9 The Impact on Crime U and P Chapter 3 Oct. 16 Exam Oct. 23 and 30 Causes of recidivism -- U and P Chapters 5 and 6 redemption Nov. 6 Role of the courts in prison Prison Journal 64:68-75; and reform 84: 290-316 on ELMS Nov. 13 Reducing Prison Populations U and P Chapter 7 Nov. 20 The Future of Prisons None Nov 27 and Dec. 4 Presentations

PAPERS ARE DUE NO LATER THAN 4PM ON DECEMBER 11

Schedule for paper

9/25 Proposed topic

10/2 Topic finalized

10/30 Detailed outline and primary references submitted for approval

11/27 Draft submitted for comments

12/11 Final paper due no later that 4PM – submit electronically