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California State University, Dominguez Hills
University of Wisconsin, Parkside
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Created: July 27, 2003
Latest Update: October 17, 2008
jeannecurran@habermas.org
takata@uwp.edu

CRMJ/SOCA 365 Race, Crime, Law

You will be held accountable for purposes of grading for the readings and exercises listed here. There will be no "testing." That means that you will not have to live in anxious anticipation of what we will ask and how much you will have to know. Instead, we will provide weekly discussion questions, lectures, essays, and concepts we feel that you should know as a result of having taken this course. You will assure us of that learning and receive your grade for the questions and concepts about which you choose to write and talk with us. In addition you will find detailed explanations and examples on our grading policies in the first week's reading.

"Race, Crime, Law" Cards

* * * * *

Week 8: Week of October 19, 2008

Monday, October 20th, beginning of class - Midterm Visual Projects due (including a bibliography and your self-assessment)

Friday, October 24th - Last day to drop a semester-long course

Topic: Midterm Visual Projects

Preparatory Readings:

• Richard Delgado & Jean Stefancic. The Derrick Bell Reader . Chapter 8.
• Samuel Walker and others. The Color of Justice. -- Chapter 6.
• Gordon Fellman. Rambo and the Dalai Lama. -- entire book!!
• Documentary: "-----" (to be shown in class)
  
  

Lecture related links:

• Race, Ethnicity, and the Criminal Justice System
• Sticks and Stones -- Labelling Matters.
  
• W.I. Thomas "Definition of the Situation
  
• other Gordon Fellman related materials on the Dear Habermas site.
• "Who's Habermas? Why Habermas?"
  
  

Concepts to be covered:

• illocutionary discourse
• the 6Cs
• the taxonomy of learning
• internal motivation v. external motivation
• adversarialism v. mutuality
• critical race theory
• difference
• theory, policy, practice

Discussion Questions:

Note: In order to answer these discussion questions, you will need to view "---------" and do the assigned readings for this week.




1. List the names of the individuals in your group. What did you do exactly for this visual project? (If in a group, explain the division of labor and your individual contribution to this visual project).
2. Explain in depth, how your visual project specifically relates to "race, crime, law" (i.e., the readings, the documentaries, class discussions, major concepts). What did you learn?
3. Assess how the 6Cs apply to your visual project, with special attention on competence and creativity. What is your visual project self-assessment (provide a letter grade) ___ ? Explain why this particular grade.

Suggested Visual Projects/Creative Measures:

Note: Start thinking about ideas for your visual projects/creative measures. Must relate to "race, crime, law." Must be approved before starting your creative measure. Cannot be something that you are doing or have done for another course. Research cannot be 100% online (i.e., google, askjeeves). Must conduct library research using scholarly works, (not the popular press -- Time Magazine, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated). You are expected to turn in a bibliography with each visual project. No term papers! Allow time to dialogue and present your creative measure in class. Email me your ideas ASAP.

• Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. An excellent resource for juvenile justice related issues.
  
• National Criminal Justice Resource Service. Administered by the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.
  
  

• Make A Box a Week focusing on this week's topic or related issues.
• Go to the county courthouse, and observe "law in action." Relate your observations to this week's readings.
• View the movie, "Gideon's Trumpet." How does this movie relate to "race, crime, law"?
• Find out nationally, statewide, and/or locally, the number and proportion of practicing attorneys of color.
• Research the Scottsboro case.
• Examine one or more of the following issues relating to racial minorities and:

  --- the right to counsel.
  --- bail.
  --- pretrial detention.
  --- plea bargaining.
  
  

• Study the issue of racial minorities in the legal profession. What are some of the major issues and challenges? Why.
  
  
• Examine Race, Ethnicity, and the Criminal Justice System published by the American Sociological Association (September 2007).
• Research the Dalai Lama -- his past and present.
• Research "forgiveness". Begin with these books: Martha Minow, Between Vengeance and Forgiveness. Desmond Tutu, No Future Without Forgiveness.

Self-Assessment Questions for each Visual Project:

1. List the names of the individuals in your group. What did you do exactly for this visual project? (If in a group, explain the division of labor and your individual contribution to this visual project).
2. Explain in depth, how your visual project specifically relates to "race, crime, law" (i.e., the readings, the documentaries, class discussions, major concepts). What did you learn?
3. Assess how the 6Cs apply to your visual project, with special attention on competence and creativity. What is your visual project self-assessment (provide a letter grade) ___ ? Explain why this particular grade.