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California State University, Dominguez Hills
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Created: July 27, 2003
Latest Update: November 24, 2007
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.

* * * * *

Week 13: Week of November 25, 2007

Topic: Minority Youth and Juvenile Justice

Dates

• November 30-December 7 - Second Meetings
• December 7, beginning of class -The Absolute Final Deadline

Preparatory Readings:

• Gordon Fellman. Rambo and the Dalai Lama. -- entire book.
• Samuel Walker and others. The Color of Justice. Chapter 10.
• Richard Delgado & Jean Stefancic. The Derrick Bell Reader . Chapters 14.
• Documentary: "--- " (to be shown in class)
  
  
  

Lecture related links:



• Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. An excellent resource for juvenile justice related issues.
  
• Race, Ethnicity, and the Criminal Justice System
• Critical Race Theory Resource Page
  
• Other Gordon Fellman related materials on the Dear Habermas site.
  
• National Criminal Justice Resource Service. Administered by the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.
  
  
• W.I. Thomas "Definition of the Situation
  
  
• Those Infamous Grades and Letters of Recommendation
• "The Case Against Gold Stars" by Alfie Kohn.




Concepts to be covered:



• the juvenile justice system vs. the criminal justice system
• status offense
• juveniles waived into adult court
• disproportionate minority confinement
• youth gangs
• juveniles as offenders
• juveniles as victims
• "child savers"
• parens patriae



Discussion Questions:





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

1. From The Derrick Bell Reader , "What is the proper balance between optimism and despair?" (p. 397). How would Derrick Bell and Gordon Fellman answer this question? Why.
2. There is a common perception that the typical juvenile offender is a person of color. Is this an accurate perception? [Walker, p. 412]
3. Why is there greater potential for racial discrimination in the juvenile justice system than in the adult justice system? [Walker, p. 412]
4. What are the dangers inherent in allowing police to use gang databases in investigating crimes? How would Bell and Fellman answer this question? Why. [Walker, p.412]



Suggested Creative Measures/Visual Projects:




Note: Start thinking about ideas for your 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.



• Make A Box a Week focusing on the week's topic or issues.

• Make a Globe (Origami Balloon). Try it!
• Examine the most recent research on disproportionate minority confinement among minority youth.
  
• Read the book, "Hoot" and compare it to the movie. [If you have not read the book for another course].
  
• Explore:
  -- minority youth and the police.
  -- minority youth and juvenile court.
  -- minority youth and juvenile corrections.
  -- race/ethnicity and juveniles waived into adult court.
  
  



Recommended Readings:

• Walter Myers. Autobiography of my Dead Brother.
• Walter Myers. Monster.
• Walter Myers. Scorpions.
• Barry Feld. Bad Kids: Race and the Transformation of Juvenile Court.
• Ralph Ellison. Manchild from a Promised Land.
• Richard Wright . Black Boy.
• Malcolm X. The Autobiography of Malcolm X.
• Geoffrey Canada. Fist, Stick, Knife, Gun.
• Paul Beatty. White Boy Shuffle.
• Luis Rodriguez. Always Running: La Vida Loca, Gang Days in L.A.
• Danny Santiago. Famous All Over Town.
  
  
• The Dalai Lama. Freedom in Exile: The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama.
• The Dalai Lama. The Universe in a Single Atom: The Convergence of Science and Spirituality.
• The Dalai Lama. Ethics for the New Millennium.
• The Dalai Lama. An Open Heart.
• The Dalai Lama. Live in a Better Way.
  
  
• Jurgen Habermas. Between Facts and Norms.
  
• Martha Minow. Making All the Difference: Exclusion, Inclusion and American Law. Check out this link Martha Minow on the Dear Habermas site.
  
  
• Desmond Tutu. No Future Without Forgiveness.
  
  

Course Syllabus for CRMJ/SOCA 365 "Race, Crime, Law"

takata@uwp.edu