Do the three main sectors of the criminal justice system - the police, the courts, and corrections - have an impact on crime, achieve justice, and constitute a system? This course will look at the historical development of each of these sectors, their relation to broader social forces, and their internal problems and dilemmas. Topics may include current controversies (police brutality, the death penalty and other sentencing trends, community policing, plea bargaining, parole) as well as the impact of broader issues like race, gender and social class.