This is the second course of a two-part graduate sequence introducing students to major theories of crime and criminal justice. The first course focused on reading (and writing about) classical texts on the etiology of crime; this course examines more contemporary contributions related to individual patterns of stability and change in offending—crime and the life course, criminal careers, bio-social criminology—and related theories that integrate critical/ historical perspectives as well as individual/contextual influences. In the second part of the course readings and lectures will explore theoretical approaches on reactions to crime from a more institutional perspective (police, courts, law/punishment.

The main goals of the course are a) to deepen the students’ understanding of criminological theories and related assumptions, propositions and empirical foundation, b) to develop a knowledge base of theories that explain the operation, structure and consequence of CJ institutions/organizations in the United States and beyond c) to strengthen critical thinking and writing abilities.