SOCY 7314 Advanced Criminology
Professor Alex Vitale
SOCY 7314 Advanced Criminology
Professor Alex Vitale
Spring 2015
Sociology of Policing
Office: 3101 James
Office Hours: M, W 1-2 PM, Tues 5-6 PM
[email protected]
This class is being run as a seminar on the sociology of policing, rather than a general criminology course. We will look at the origins of modern policing as well as some of the core contemporary challenges facing the police. Issues such as the War on Drugs, Broken Windows policing, excessive use of force, corruption, and the militarization of policing will be explored. The class will start of national in scope and then focus specifically on New York City. Ina ddition to a long research paper, you will write two short op ed style essays. Therefroe we will be reading and discussing such essays throughout the term and you are expected to bring in such essays to class as part of our ongoing class discussions.
Objectives
To become familiar with the sociological and criminological literature on policing.
To learn to produce op ed essays.
To communicate ideas effectively in class and in writing.
To learn to read professional criminological writing effectively.
To produce a substantial research paper using existing literature.
Required Books
Balko, Radley. 2014. The Rise of the Warrior Cop: The Militarization of America’s Police Forces. Public Affairs.
Moskos, Peter. 2009. Cop in the Hood: My Year Policing Baltimore's Eastern District. Princeton.
Rios, Victor. 2011. Punished: Policing the Lives of Black and Latino Boys. NYU Press.
Way, Lori Beth and Ryan Patten. 2013. Hunting for Dirtbags: Why Cops Over-Police the Poor and Racial Minorities.Northeastern.
Zimring, Franklin. 2013. The City That Became Safe: New York’s Lessons for urban Crime and It’s Control. Oxford.
Optional Books
Apuzzo, Matt and Adam Goldman. 2014. Enemies Within: Inside the NYPD’s Secret Spying Unit and bin Laden’s Final Plot Against America. Touchstone.
Harcourt, Bernard. 2005. The Illusion of Order: The False Promise of Broken Windows Policing. Harvard.
Kane, Robert J and Michael D. White. 2013. Jammed Up: Bad Cops, Police Misconduct, and the New York City Police Department. NYU.
Levitt, Leonard. 2009. NYPD Confidential: Power and Corruption in the Country’s Greatest Police Force. Thomas Dunn.
Nelson, Jill. ed. 2000. Police Brutality. Norton.
Silverman, Eli. 1999. NYPD Battles Crime: Innovative Strategies in Policing.
Skolnick, Jerome and James Fyfe. 1993. Above the Law: Police and Use of Excessive Force. The Free Press.
Vitale, Alex. 2008. City of Disorder: How the Quality of Life Campaign Transformed New York Politics. NYU Press.
Assignments
Class Participation (20%) Students are expected to be in class on time and well prepared. This means reading the assignment and participating in classroom discussions. You should be prepared to be called upon to answer questions at any time.
Midterm Essays (40%) There will be 2 1-2,000 word op ed style essay that analyzes a current issue in policing referencing 2 or more readings in the course and making one or more specific recommendations. The first essay is due
Final Research Paper (40%) This will be a 12-15 page research paper using existing literature to analyze a contemporary policing problem. It should include a historical and comparative perspective.
Ground Rules
If you miss class, contact the instructor by email before the next class to receive any missed assignments, handouts, etc.
Please do not disturb class with cell phones, side conversations, or excessive eating in class.
Plagiarism (writing someone else’s words as your own), sharing your exam or paper with another student, or copying another student’s paper or exam will result in an F in the course. The following is a statement on the University’s policy on Academic Integrity:
The faculty and administration of Brooklyn College support an environment free from cheating and plagiarism. Each student is responsible for being aware of what constitutes cheating and plagiarism and for avoiding both. The complete text of the CUNY Academic Integrity Policy and the Brooklyn College procedure for implementing that policy can be found at this site: http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/bc/policies. If a faculty member suspects a violation of academic integrity and, upon investigation, confirms that violation, or if the student admits the violation, the faculty member MUST report the violation.
If you feel you are not doing as well as you would like in the course you should come and see me in my office or after class. Grades cannot be adjusted after an assignment is completed or once the semester is over.
In order to receive disability-related academic accommodations students must first be registered with the Center for Student Disability Services. Students who have a documented disability or suspect they may have a disability are invited to set up an appointment with the Director of the Center for Student Disability Services, Ms. Valerie Stewart-Lovell at 718-951-5538. If you have already registered with the Center for Student Disability Services please provide your professor with the course accommodation form and discuss your specific accommodation with him/her.
Course details can be viewed at http://www.alex-vitale.info
Course Schedule
2/3 Introduction: Origins of the police. Balko
2/10 Police Militarization, Balko, Vitale, Alex 2014. “How to End Militarized Policing.” The
Nation. August 18.
2/17 Policing the War on Drugs, Balko, Vitale, Alex. 2014. “We Don’t Just Need Nicer Cops.
We Need Fewer Cops.” The Nation. December 4.
2/24 Police, Race and the Use of Force, Moskos Field Trip to the New School 4:30PM, followed by meeting with Moskos.
3/3 Policing the War on Drugs, Moskos
3/10 Policing the War on Drugs, Way and Patten
3/17 Police Use of Force: Skolnick, Jerome and James Fyfe. 1993. Above the Law: Police and
Use of Excessive Force. The Free Press. Part 2. P. 89-171. Forbes, Alexander Flores.
“Point No. 7: We Want an Immediate End to Police Brutality and the Murder of Black People.” and Daniels, Ron. “The Crisis of Police Brutality and Misconduct in America.” In Jill Nelson ed. 2000. Police Brutality. Norton.
3/24 Overpolicing of Youth, Rios Ch. 1-4. Essay 1 Due
3/31 The Rise and Consequences of Broken Windows Policing. Vitale, Alex. 2008. City of
Disorder: How the Quality of Life Campaign Transformed New York Politics. NYU
Press. Ch. 6, “The Transformation of Policing.” Vitale, Alex. 2014 “Paying in Blood for
Over-policing: Broken Windows is the new Stop and Frisk.” Daily News. July 18.
4/14 Evaluating Broken Windows. Harcourt, Bernard. 2005. The Illusion of Order: The False
Promise of Broken Windows Policing. Harvard.
4/21 Compstat. Silverman, Eli. 1999. NYPD Battles Crime: Innovative Strategies in Policing.
Ch. 4-8. pp. 67-204.
4/28 Terrorism and Surveillance. Apuzzo, Matt and Adam Goldman. 2014. Enemies Within:
Inside the NYPD’s Secret Spying Unit and bin Laden’s Final Plot Against America.
Touchstone.
5/5 Policing and the Crime Drop. Zimring Ch. 1, 3, 4, 5.
5/12 Corruption and Accountability. Kane, Robert J and Michael D. White. 2013. Jammed
Up: bad Cops, Police Misconduct, and the New York City Police Department. NYU. Ch.
2, 6, 8. Levitt, Leonard. 2009. NYPD Confidential: Power and Corruption in the
Country’s Greatest Police Force. Thomas Dunn. Ch. 1, 4, 7, 9. Essay 2 Due
5/20 Final Paper Due
Professor Alex Vitale
SOCY 7314 Advanced Criminology
Professor Alex Vitale
Spring 2015
Sociology of Policing
Office: 3101 James
Office Hours: M, W 1-2 PM, Tues 5-6 PM
[email protected]
This class is being run as a seminar on the sociology of policing, rather than a general criminology course. We will look at the origins of modern policing as well as some of the core contemporary challenges facing the police. Issues such as the War on Drugs, Broken Windows policing, excessive use of force, corruption, and the militarization of policing will be explored. The class will start of national in scope and then focus specifically on New York City. Ina ddition to a long research paper, you will write two short op ed style essays. Therefroe we will be reading and discussing such essays throughout the term and you are expected to bring in such essays to class as part of our ongoing class discussions.
Objectives
To become familiar with the sociological and criminological literature on policing.
To learn to produce op ed essays.
To communicate ideas effectively in class and in writing.
To learn to read professional criminological writing effectively.
To produce a substantial research paper using existing literature.
Required Books
Balko, Radley. 2014. The Rise of the Warrior Cop: The Militarization of America’s Police Forces. Public Affairs.
Moskos, Peter. 2009. Cop in the Hood: My Year Policing Baltimore's Eastern District. Princeton.
Rios, Victor. 2011. Punished: Policing the Lives of Black and Latino Boys. NYU Press.
Way, Lori Beth and Ryan Patten. 2013. Hunting for Dirtbags: Why Cops Over-Police the Poor and Racial Minorities.Northeastern.
Zimring, Franklin. 2013. The City That Became Safe: New York’s Lessons for urban Crime and It’s Control. Oxford.
Optional Books
Apuzzo, Matt and Adam Goldman. 2014. Enemies Within: Inside the NYPD’s Secret Spying Unit and bin Laden’s Final Plot Against America. Touchstone.
Harcourt, Bernard. 2005. The Illusion of Order: The False Promise of Broken Windows Policing. Harvard.
Kane, Robert J and Michael D. White. 2013. Jammed Up: Bad Cops, Police Misconduct, and the New York City Police Department. NYU.
Levitt, Leonard. 2009. NYPD Confidential: Power and Corruption in the Country’s Greatest Police Force. Thomas Dunn.
Nelson, Jill. ed. 2000. Police Brutality. Norton.
Silverman, Eli. 1999. NYPD Battles Crime: Innovative Strategies in Policing.
Skolnick, Jerome and James Fyfe. 1993. Above the Law: Police and Use of Excessive Force. The Free Press.
Vitale, Alex. 2008. City of Disorder: How the Quality of Life Campaign Transformed New York Politics. NYU Press.
Assignments
Class Participation (20%) Students are expected to be in class on time and well prepared. This means reading the assignment and participating in classroom discussions. You should be prepared to be called upon to answer questions at any time.
Midterm Essays (40%) There will be 2 1-2,000 word op ed style essay that analyzes a current issue in policing referencing 2 or more readings in the course and making one or more specific recommendations. The first essay is due
Final Research Paper (40%) This will be a 12-15 page research paper using existing literature to analyze a contemporary policing problem. It should include a historical and comparative perspective.
Ground Rules
If you miss class, contact the instructor by email before the next class to receive any missed assignments, handouts, etc.
Please do not disturb class with cell phones, side conversations, or excessive eating in class.
Plagiarism (writing someone else’s words as your own), sharing your exam or paper with another student, or copying another student’s paper or exam will result in an F in the course. The following is a statement on the University’s policy on Academic Integrity:
The faculty and administration of Brooklyn College support an environment free from cheating and plagiarism. Each student is responsible for being aware of what constitutes cheating and plagiarism and for avoiding both. The complete text of the CUNY Academic Integrity Policy and the Brooklyn College procedure for implementing that policy can be found at this site: http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/bc/policies. If a faculty member suspects a violation of academic integrity and, upon investigation, confirms that violation, or if the student admits the violation, the faculty member MUST report the violation.
If you feel you are not doing as well as you would like in the course you should come and see me in my office or after class. Grades cannot be adjusted after an assignment is completed or once the semester is over.
In order to receive disability-related academic accommodations students must first be registered with the Center for Student Disability Services. Students who have a documented disability or suspect they may have a disability are invited to set up an appointment with the Director of the Center for Student Disability Services, Ms. Valerie Stewart-Lovell at 718-951-5538. If you have already registered with the Center for Student Disability Services please provide your professor with the course accommodation form and discuss your specific accommodation with him/her.
Course details can be viewed at http://www.alex-vitale.info
Course Schedule
2/3 Introduction: Origins of the police. Balko
2/10 Police Militarization, Balko, Vitale, Alex 2014. “How to End Militarized Policing.” The
Nation. August 18.
2/17 Policing the War on Drugs, Balko, Vitale, Alex. 2014. “We Don’t Just Need Nicer Cops.
We Need Fewer Cops.” The Nation. December 4.
2/24 Police, Race and the Use of Force, Moskos Field Trip to the New School 4:30PM, followed by meeting with Moskos.
3/3 Policing the War on Drugs, Moskos
3/10 Policing the War on Drugs, Way and Patten
3/17 Police Use of Force: Skolnick, Jerome and James Fyfe. 1993. Above the Law: Police and
Use of Excessive Force. The Free Press. Part 2. P. 89-171. Forbes, Alexander Flores.
“Point No. 7: We Want an Immediate End to Police Brutality and the Murder of Black People.” and Daniels, Ron. “The Crisis of Police Brutality and Misconduct in America.” In Jill Nelson ed. 2000. Police Brutality. Norton.
3/24 Overpolicing of Youth, Rios Ch. 1-4. Essay 1 Due
3/31 The Rise and Consequences of Broken Windows Policing. Vitale, Alex. 2008. City of
Disorder: How the Quality of Life Campaign Transformed New York Politics. NYU
Press. Ch. 6, “The Transformation of Policing.” Vitale, Alex. 2014 “Paying in Blood for
Over-policing: Broken Windows is the new Stop and Frisk.” Daily News. July 18.
4/14 Evaluating Broken Windows. Harcourt, Bernard. 2005. The Illusion of Order: The False
Promise of Broken Windows Policing. Harvard.
4/21 Compstat. Silverman, Eli. 1999. NYPD Battles Crime: Innovative Strategies in Policing.
Ch. 4-8. pp. 67-204.
4/28 Terrorism and Surveillance. Apuzzo, Matt and Adam Goldman. 2014. Enemies Within:
Inside the NYPD’s Secret Spying Unit and bin Laden’s Final Plot Against America.
Touchstone.
5/5 Policing and the Crime Drop. Zimring Ch. 1, 3, 4, 5.
5/12 Corruption and Accountability. Kane, Robert J and Michael D. White. 2013. Jammed
Up: bad Cops, Police Misconduct, and the New York City Police Department. NYU. Ch.
2, 6, 8. Levitt, Leonard. 2009. NYPD Confidential: Power and Corruption in the
Country’s Greatest Police Force. Thomas Dunn. Ch. 1, 4, 7, 9. Essay 2 Due
5/20 Final Paper Due