CRM 010 - (IS) Are Prisons Obsolete?

This course centers around the iconic text and ultimate question: are prisons obsolete? The class will focus on the history, growth, and current functioning of the American system of incarceration with the critical goal of questioning the future of such carceral structures. The course begins with the book Are Prisons Obsolete? by Angela Davis and foundational sociological examinations, but the texts for the course intersect with several fields, including Gender Studies, Geography, History, and Disability Studies. Students will be exposed to arguments against retributive sanctioning and explore alternative justice systems.

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Summer Session I 2026

Summer Session II 2026

Summer Session III 2026

Fall 2026