Crime & Justice in Urban Society

This course presents an array of urban environments in which to study contemporary criminal justice issues. While various cities will be examined for their special characteristics and contributions, New York City will be the primary focus. As the first urban community in the nation to use Quality of Life/Broken Windows strategies of policing, New York City continues to lead the nation's drop in violent crime. Furthermore, the city has the world's largest police force (NYPD) and the country's 2nd largest jailing complex (Rikers Island). Students will be exposed to America's first problem-solving court, the Midtown Community Court, and its numerous spin offs - the Harlem Reentry Court, Red Hook Community Justice Center, Bronx Community Solutions, and the Brooklyn Mental Health Court. In short, New York City offers students the richest urban environment to explore the challenges and opportunities of the nation's foremost criminal justice administration.