Module 9 Overview: Racism in the Criminal Justice System

To-Do Date: Mar 2 at 11:59pmTo-Do Date: Mar 2 at 11:59pm

Introduction

In this module, we explore racism in the criminal justice system. 

We will examine the following aspects:

• The Prison Industrial Complex
• War on Drugs and the Age of Mass Incarceration
• Policing, Colonialism, and Slavery
• Is Policing Inherently Racist?
• School-to-Prison Pipeline
• Alternative Solutions

Learning Outcomes/Goals

• Analyze representations of race and criminality in the media and its impact on law enforcement discretion;
• Analyze historical roots and contemporary consequences of mass incarceration and heavy policing among communities of color;
• Analyze the intersections of race, class, gender, ability, and sexuality in the context of the U.S. carceral state;
• Evaluate the impact of policing and incarceration as related to settler-colonialism, slavery, white supremacy, and racialization on communities of color;
• Describe and actively engage with anti-racist, abolition, and anti-carceral issues and the practices and movements in Native American, African American, Asian American and/or Latinx communities to build a just and equitable society.

Required Reading & Viewing

• Chapter 10: The State of Human Caging - Incarceration, Policing and State-Sanctioned Violence, Introduction to Ethnic Studies textbook, Libretext, 2023Links to an external site.
• Watch: 13th Feature Documentary

Supplemental material

• Comix: Pushed Out: Youth of Color and the School-to-Prison Pipeline
• Podcast: Stephon Clark's Fiancée Speaks out on Police Shooting
• Current Events: California ex-police chief tells of colleagues’ racist harassment campaign (11/21/25)

This Week's Assignments

• Read - please read this module's readings and go through the pages in the module.
• Extra Credit: Ethnic Studies Summit (Wednesday)
• DISCUSSION FORUM 9
  • Answer - Please respond to two Discussion Forum prompts (due Friday):
    • One prompt from Section A
    • One prompt from Section B
  • Comment - Respond to two classmates' forum posts (one from Section A and one from Section B). (Due Sunday)

• Read: Final Paper Prompt (Do not submit until Week 12)