SOC 35375 Police and Society

This is an introduction to the police in American society. The material is organized around the development and structure of the police as an integral part of the criminal justice process, with an emphasis on large municipal departments. The course addresses issues such as the tension between the coercive power of the police and the expectation of freedom in American society: the ability of the police, as organized, to deal with crime and disorder; the nature of role expectations and role conflict between the police and the public; the nature and effects of what is called the police subculture, and issues of profiling, stereotyping, prejudice, and corruption. Prerequisite: SOC 35101. (F, even years)