Course syllabus

CONTACT INFORMATION:             

INTRODUCTION:

This course will look at punishment and incarceration as a complex social institution informed by a range of social relations and cultural meanings. It will examine the history of internment from the leprosarium to enemy combatant internment centres and demonstrate that punishment and containment regimes reflect dominant power relations and political relations at the local, national, regional and global level. Topics include: history of punishment, theories of incarceration, Punishment regimes directed at the body, punishment regimes directed at the mind, punishment regimes directed at the individual, punishment regimes directed at the collective, inmate and staff perspectives on incarceration and penalty regimes.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

At the end of this course, you should:

• Understand the way conceptions of punishment and incarceration change over time, place and culture
• Be familiar with both theorists and theoretical explanations of punishment and incarceration
• Understand the diverse nature of incarceration experience
• Be able to critically analyse different responses to punishment and incarceration
• Understand the consequences of incarceration as a societal response
• Be aware of punishment regimes and future directions in punishment and incarceration
• Be able to research and area pertaining to this course and critically analyse these findings

To achieve the course objectives listed above you will need to:

• Attend, concentrate and take notes in the lectures
• Attend and actively participate in tutorials
• Read take notes and reflect on each required reading
• Do additional reading
• Monitor the media for current issues relevant to debates discussed in the course
• Complete and submit assignments on time
• Sit the final examination 

COURSE READINGS:

This course has no set textbook, however there are a number of assigned readings you should complete each week. You will be expected to do all assigned reading as well as independent reading (independent supplemental reading will also be required for certain writing assessments). A list of assigned reading is to be found within the course outline and on Canvas.

Assigned reading, additional web links, additional readings and occasional articles will be made available through the Reading Lists accessible in Canvas, with direct access to electronic resources plus up-to-date availability information for resources in Library collections. You can also access the Course Reading List through the Library:  https://auckland.rl.talis.com/courses/sociol337.html. You can use this to mark your reading intentions and add personal notes.