CJS 3305: Social Control and Criminal Sanctions

Tuesdays and Thursdays: 5.30-6.45 pm GR 4.428

Spring 2006
Professor: Pernilla Johansson, Ph.D.
Office: MC 3.212
Phone: 972-883-4613
E-mail: johan@utdallas.edu
Office Hours: Tu. 4-5 pm, Th. 4-5 pm & by appt.

Course Description:
This course examines various means by which society attempts to control the deviant and
criminal conduct of its members. Social control encompasses both formal criminal sanctions and
informal mechanisms and a variety of institutions and social processes that are designed to deter
inappropriate conduct if possible and/or punish and reform such conduct when it does occur.
Moreover, social control has evolved considerably over time and various social control
philosophies and techniques have been prevalent in one time frame but not in others.

Writings on the social response to crime come from a variety of disciplines—law, social
psychology, sociology, and criminology. We will read selections from many of the best
representative works on the criminal justice process as it functions internally and as it relates to
the society where it operates. We will read some classical works along with contemporary
scholars.

Expectations and Grading Policy:

10% Active attendance and participation
30% Midterm (Feb. 28)
30% Final (Tuesday April 27 5pm)
30% Evaluation of Making Good (due Tuesday April 18)

Active Attendance and Participation:

Students are expected to read assignments in advance of class meetings and to take part in
discussions. Diverse experiences and opinions make it especially important for learning about
controversial social control perspectives that class participants be open-minded and respectful of
one another. In addition to being courteous and responsible, it is important for learning that
students attend class, so repeated absences or tardiness, regardless of the reason, will not be
considered favorably. Moreover, except in unusual circumstances, late submissions and make up
assignments will not be allowed.

Evaluation of Making Good:

Students will relate social control theories covered throughout the semester to Maruna’s findings
in his research on recidivism and desistance among active, committed offenders. This is an
opportunity for students to convey their comprehension of course material. The 6-9 page paper
should be typed, double-spaced, with 11-12 pt. font, 1’ margins, proofread, and with appropriate
citations. Given the size of the class, electronic submission will not be accepted.

Academic Dishonesty:
Academic dishonesty includes, but is note limited to plagiarism, cheating, collusion, false
references (see http://www.utdallas.edu/judicialaffairs/) . Academic dishonesty will not be

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tolerated. All academic dishonesty and all violations of academic integrity will be reported to the
Dean of Students.

Disability Services:
UTD is committed to providing educational opportunities for all persons. Disability Services
Office, phone: 972-883-2070

Required Readings:

Garland, David. 2001. Mass Imprisonment: Social Causes and Consequences. Thousand
Oaks, CA: Sage.

Maruna, Shadd. 2001. Making Good: How Ex-Convicts Reform and Rebuild Their
Lives. Washington, D. C.: American Psychology Association.

Beccaria, Cesare, 1764. Dei delitti e delle pene. (Of Crime and Punishment)
(Chapters 1-8, 12, 19, 27-29, 41, 44, 47)
Available at: http://www.constitution.org/cb/crim_pun.htm
http://www.crimetheory.com/Archive/Beccaria/Beccaria00c.htm

Géis, Gil. 1955. Jeremy Bentham. Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology and Police
Science 46(4): 51-67. On Reserve in Library.

Compendium:
von Hirsch, Andrew. 1976. Doing Justice. NY: Hill and Wang, pp. 68-76; 98-140.
Tonry, Michael.1996. Sentencing matters. NY: Oxford University Press, pp. 3-24.
Rusche, George& Otto Kirschheimer. 1939. Punishment and Social Structure NY:
Columbia, pp. 5-11, 24-27, 29-30, 62-67.
Van den Haag, Ernest. 1975. Punishing Criminals. NY: Basic, pp.8-33.
Newman, Graeme. 1983. Just and Painful. NY: Narrow and Heston/Macmillan, pp. 97-
136 (ch10-13)
Schur, Edwin M.1973. Radical Non-Intervention. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-
Hall,pp.153-171
Braithwaite, John. 1989. Crime, Shame, & Reintegration. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press, pp.54-68 (ch4)
Messner, Steven F.& Richard Rosenfeld. 1994. Crime& the American Dream, 3rd
edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, pp.90-112 (chapter 5)
Feeley, Malcolm and Jonathan Simon. 1994. Actuarial Justice: The emerging new
criminal law. In D. Nelkin (ed.), The Future of Criminology. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage,
pp.172-201.

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Course Schedule:
Week 1
Jan 10: Syllabus
Jan 12: Introduction

Week 2
Jan 17: Beccaria, Cesare, 1764. Dei delitti e delle pene. (Of Crime and Punishment)
(Chapters 1-8, 12, 19, 27-29, 41, 44, 47)
Jan 19: Géis, Gil. 1955. Jeremy Bentham. Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology and
Police Science 46(4): 51-67

Week 3
Jan 24: Garland, David. Introduction to Mass Imprisonment
Jan 26: Mauer, Marc. Chapter 1 in Mass Imprisonment

Week 4
Jan 31: von Hirsch, Andrew. 1976. Doing Justice. NY: Hill and Wang, pp. 68-76; 98-
140.
Feb 2: von Hirsch cont

Week 5
Feb 7: Tonry, Michael.1996. Sentencing matters. NY: Oxford University Press, pp. 3-24
Feb 9: Rusche, George& Otto Kirschheimer. 1939. Punishment and Social Structure.
NY: Columbia

Week 6
Feb 14: Beckett, Katherine & Bruce Western. Chapter 4 in Mass Imprisonment
Feb 16: Van den Haag, Ernest. 1975. Punishing Criminals. NY: Basic, pp.8-33.

Week 7
Feb 21: Newman, Graeme. 1983. Just and Painful. NY: Narrow and Heston/Macmillan,
pp. 97-136 (ch10-13)
Feb 23: cont.

Week 8
Feb 28: Midterm
March 2: Video

Week 9: Spring Break (March 6-11)

Week 10
March 14: Schur, Edwin M.1973. Radical Non-Intervention. Englewood Cliffs, NJ:
Prentice-Hall, pp.153-171

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March 16: Braithwaite, John. 1989. Crime, Shame, & Reintegration. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press, pp.54-68 (ch4)

Week 11
March 21: Messner, Steven F.& Richard Rosenfeld. 1994. Crime& the American
Dream, 3rd edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, pp.90-112 (chapter 5)
March 23: Downes, David. Chapter 5 in Mass Imprisonment

Week 12
March 28: Feeley, Malcolm and Jonathan Simon. 1994. Actuarial Justice: The
emerging new criminal law. In D. Nelkin (ed.), The Future of Criminology. Thousand
Oaks, CA: Sage, pp.172-201.
March 30: Anderson, Elijah. Chapter 8 in Mass Imprisonment.

Week 13
April 4: Maruna, Shadd.2001. Making Good.
April 6: Maruna cont.

Week 14
April 11: Reading TBA
April 13: Reading TBA

Week 15
April 18: Evaluation of Maruna Due.
April 20: No reading

April 27: Final Exam

The schedule may be changed. I will announce changes in class. You are responsible to
know about all changes.