CJ 285 : DIVERSITY IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE (DO)

This Honors course examines intersectionality and criminal justice while specifically diving into the areas of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and related social issues. Students will explore how group dynamics, communication and the development of ideas shape perceptions of various groups and cultures which, in turn, has a ripple effect on crime and the criminal justice system overall. Cultural groups that are most likely to experience problems within the criminal justice system will be discussed, citing relevant and recent experiences and examples. This will include the African American, Asian American, Native American, Hispanic/Latino, elderly, juvenile, and LGBTQ+ communities. The course will also examine how criminal justice personnel interact with other cultural groups, and the experiences of multicultural criminal justice personnel members themselves. Internal problems and biases of the police, courts, and corrections will be assessed. Finally, students will identify and discuss the critical issues challenging the future of multiculturalism and criminal justice, and how progress can be made in this area.