Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice Reform

This in-person course will explore issues of social justice in criminal justice.  Students will focus on a community-based approach in collaboration with the community partner  to learn about reducing barriers to exiting the criminal justice system.  These include clemency, parole, prison litigation, immigration and refugee status, mental illness and incarceration, non-unanimous juries and removing the criminal related barriers that keep individuals in poverty.   Specifically, the Capstone students will partner with the Oregon Department of Corrections Division of Research and Evaluation, https://www.oregon.gov/doc/research-and-requests/Pages/research-and-statistics.aspx to work on a community-based research project. Students enrolling in this course will need to pass the security volunteer background check administered by the Oregon Department of Corrections prior to the course starting.  Students should contact the professor immediately after registering to begin this process.

This capstone is similar to the Gender and Violence capstone but includes more emphasis on international issues.

Brief description   

“I learned that I can no longer just turn my head and walk away.”

The Inside-Out Capstone provides an opportunity for a small group of students from PSU and a group of residents from Coffee Creek Correctional Facility to exchange perceptions about crime, justice, and how societal structures and culture define crime, justice.  We will explore civic and social responsibility and how civic engagement contributes to community strength and self.

WORKING WITH LATINE YOUTH SUMMER CAPSTONE

Since 2007, this course has offered students the opportunity to work with Latine youth enrolled in Latino Network's Summer Youth Programs. Students work directly with youth in community-based settings. On a case-by-case basis, students may also choose to complete indirect service options such as research, data collection, and curriculum development. This is not guaranteed; all students should expect to work directly with youth.