Crime & Punishment

What is crime and what kinds of problems does it pose for us as a society? What behaviors are considered criminal and why? What causes people to commit crimes: nature, nurture, or other factors? How do we differentiate between violent, property, and white-collar crime? Why do crime rates vary across countries and cultures, and what are the political dimensions of crime? What approaches to law enforcement are effective, and how do due process protections and civil rights affect crime and punishment? Why do we punish crime? What are the alternatives to incarceration, what has been effective, and what about the costs? In this discussion series, we invite you to explore these and many other questions. This discussion guide invites us to explore these and other interrelated questions and concerns about crime, punishment, and our criminal justice system.