Criminology (CRIM)

Students are introduced to contemporary issues, problems and themes pertinent to the field of Criminology in Canada.

Students are introduced to tools and concepts underpinning criminological research. Students explore case studies to connect criminological theory and research.

Students examine the process of the criminal justice system in Canada. The roles, powers, and discretion of the police, the courts, and the correctional system are explored.

Students are introduced to the major themes of contemporary criminological theory including the influence of class, gender, race, media and politics in the definition, explanation, and regulation of crime and criminal behaviour.

Students are introduced to criminological research that uses qualitative methods. Students examine qualitative methodology, research strategies, designs and methods of qualitative data collection and analysis, including the contributions of feminist scholarship. Students explore different ways of interpreting qualitative data. Approaches covered in this class may include grounded theory, participatory action research, historical and textual methods, and participant-observation/ethnography, among others.

Students are introduced to quantitative methodology, research strategies, designs, methods of quantitative data collection and statistical analysis in criminology. Students interpret and critique statistical data, which is a major source of information for criminologists.

Restorative justice defines crime as a violation of social or interpersonal relationships, rather than a violation of an official rule or regulation. Students examine how restorative justice offers a wholesale shift in thinking about wrongdoing challenging the common belief that justice is best achieved through punishment and retribution.

Students explore the topics of sexual offenders and sexual offences from a criminological perspective. Students are provided with a comprehensive overview of the current criminological study of sexual offending. A variety of topics will be discussed, including: the epidemiology of sexual offences; sexual offences against children; sexual offences against adults; atypical sexual offences; both individual and group explanations of sexual offending.

Students analyze efforts to respond to individuals who have been convicted of criminal offences. Topics covered include: the objectives of punishment, alternatives to confinement, correctional institutions and administrations, the inmate prison experience, release and re-entry, and the effectiveness of prisons and punishment.

In this course students will explore issues related to the policing of modern societies. Topics will include the exercise of police powers and discretion, police misconduct, and policing in a multicultural society.

In criminal justice systems, the role of the victim has expanded considerably. It is not clear if these developments have resulted in better treatment of victims or more justice in broader ways. To explore these issues students will learn about the historic roots of “victimology”, and critical theoretical perspectives on the social construction of victims and their needs and rights.

This course is designed to familiarize students with Canadian criminal law. The course will focus on topics such as the history, nature and functions of criminal law, its elements and role in a democratic society, exemptions from criminal responsibility, its principles and procedures, and its administration and enforcement.

This course is a comprehensive examination of how terrorism movements have comparatively developed. This includes an analysis of methods, typical motivations, and outcomes. Academic studies on terrorism and counter-terrorism are contrasted with responses to terrorism.

Students explore the behavior and personality traits/disorders of mass shooters using conceptual frameworks found in criminological, psychological, and psychiatric literature. The purpose of the course is to have students learn the different types of mass shooters based on (1) the victims and locations of the shootings; (2) the personality characteristics/behaviors of the perpetrators; and (3) understand threat assessment and risk from a law enforcement and medical perspective.

This course provides an introduction to the subject of organized crime and its control in North America. The course applies sociological, criminological, and economic theory to understand the rise and proliferation of criminal organizations and organized crime activities. It also explores dominant organized crime genres, activities, and recent trends. The course also explores strategies and laws to combat organized crime.

This course focuses on the depiction of crime in various media of mass communication. Areas of study include corporate crime, violent crime, gangs, organized crime and terrorism. This course also examines how gender, race and class are related to the way crime is depicted in the

Students explore factors that put children and youth at risk of future criminal and anti-social behavior. Students gain practical experience by tutoring youths from a high risk environment. In- class and online lectures provide a theoretical framework and training.

Students examine contemporary issues in the criminal justice system, and critically analyze the policy responses that are designed address these issues. Students investigate the principles and techniques of public policy development, implementation, and evaluation in the criminal justice system.

Students examine the way that crime, criminality, justice, and resistance are constituted in and through mediated discourses in mediums such as film and television.

Students explore the connection between culture and meaning in representations of ‘crime’ and the ‘criminal’. Students study six films, in languages different from English, to learn about how power structures in diverse social and historical contexts impact the understanding of crime, transgression and deviancy, within and beyond criminal justice systems.

Critical criminology challenges the dominant paradigms of crime-control, adopting instead a social justice approach to crime. Students will explore central themes of critical criminology including power; the social construction of crime; governance and regulation; the politicization of crime control; and, the significance of gender, race and class.

Genocide as a sociological and criminological phenomenon prevalent through history is examined. Different types of genocide are identified, as well as the many challenges in responding to it.

Students examine definitions of prejudice, hate, violence, and crime to explore the context and conditions in which prejudice becomes hate, hate turns into violence, and violence makes hate a crime. Students explore who the protagonists are, what the social contexts of hate are, what the role of the Criminal Justice System is, and what the potential remedies for hate crimes look like.

Students examine how social structures and processes shape the understanding and management of mental illnesses, thereby contributing to an overrepresentation of people with mental illness in the criminal justice system. Students explore the overlap between mental illness and crime, and the intersecting functions of mental health and criminal justice institutions.

Students critically assess contemporary and historical theoretical perspectives on the topic of sexual homicide. Core topics include: theoretical explanations of sexual homicide; prevalence rates; crime scene behaviours; the relationship between sexual homicide and sexual sadism; the importance of situational factors; criminal careers of sexual murderers; and policing considerations.

This course provides an in-depth and critical explanation of selected criminological theories and how they create the epistemological status of the discipline. Students explore the ethical and political dimension of criminological theories and read original works in the field.

Students examine qualitative and quantitative research methods used in criminological research. Students explore the characteristics of credible and rigorous research and the applicability of various methods to the field of Criminology.

Students are introduced to the field of crime prevention. Students plan and implement a crime prevention project, and develop a crime prevention plan.

Students explore the psychology and pathology of serial murder. Students examine the different behavioral and personality traits of serial killers, utilizing the basic skills of behavioral profiling. The class takes an in-depth look at several different serial killers. Course content includes violent images and crime scene photos.

This course is restricted to students who have been accepted into the honours program. Its purpose is to aid students in the preparation of their honours thesis in individual work with a supervisor. Students will present their thesis orally to faculty and classmates at end of term.

Students will work closely with their supervisor to complete their thesis. Students present their thesis orally to faculty and classmates at end of term.

Students will tutor youth from a socially disadvantaged neighborhood and research and prepare a development plan for that community. A theoretical framework and training for this field work is provided.