(In)Justice Served: The "Justice" System, Explained

FREE SUMMER COURSE
Course 1: Understanding the U.S. Punishment System
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Course 1 Syllabus
Course 1 Reading Materials (Google Drive Access) 
Enroll in Course 1

It's no secret that the United States has 25 percent of the world's prisoners with just 5 percent of the world's population.  Our nation relies on incarceration to address problems of unemployment, inequality, racial conflict, identity, citizenship, and harm — earning the deserved title, "incarceration nation" (Kilgore, 2015). In the wake of growing protest and conversations ranging from prosecutorial misconduct and police violence to abolition and calls to "free them all," the need for a fundamental understanding of the criminal legal system remains apparent. 

This course should be considered a primer for individuals who are interested in understanding the gears and gadgets that make up the prison industrial complex. As you will see in the syllabus, this course is rooted in critical criminology, human rights literature, feminist theory, and Black revolutionary texts — all of which are inextricably linked. 

During this course you will: 

1. Develop general knowledge of punishment and criminological theory within the U.S. 
2. Explore the primary actors within the criminal legal system such as: law enforcement personnel, prosecutors, bail bondspersons, public defenders, etc. 
3. Analyze mechanisms of change and explore alternatives including, but not limited to: defunding and redistributing resources, restorative justice, conflict resolution practices, and more. 

Filming (in)justice served in her living room, Candice often incorporates, audio, video, infographics, and tweets from notable scholars. Video content can be streamed on IGTV @whatcandicedoes