Politics and the US Carceral System

This course introduces political science research on the US carceral system. It covers major works on the development of the system, oversight successes and failures within it, and the political consequences of inequality in who is punished. The role of race in this development of the system and its consequences for racial inequality feature prominently.

This course is designed for students interested in pursuing a thesis or dissertation in the area. As it is an emerging field within political science, the core questions and methods are being worked
out. We will discuss at the end whether it will or should coalesce into an independent specialization in the discipline. To prepare students to think about the development of a literature on this level, the course addresses several topics because they contain excellent examples of how to attach the study of criminal justice systems onto established areas of scholarship (including federalism, public opinion, political participation, and bureaucracy).

The course does not have pre-requisites, but readings will involve a variety of political science methods, including experiments, statistical analysis, and game theory. If not already familiar
with these methods, students are expected to engage thoughtfully with arguments relying on them and ask for assistance if necessary.