AMST 3141 Prisons
Course description
The United States stands alone among Western, industrialized countries with its persistent, high rates of incarceration, long sentences, and continued use of the death penalty. This “American exceptionalism” – the turn to mass incarceration – has been fostered by the use of sharply-delineated categories that define vast numbers of people as outlaws and others as law-abiding. These categories that are based on ideas of personal responsibility and assumptions about race are modified somewhat by a liberal commitment to human rights. Our purpose in this course is to understand how such ideas have taken root and to locate the consequences of these ideas for policy and practice.
No upcoming classes were found.
Previously offered classes
Winter 2023: Online course

Section ID: | AMST 3141 001-LEC |
Number: | 1123 |
Session: | 3-week Winter session |
Class dates: | January 3-20, 2023 |
Final exam/project due: | Friday January 20, 11:59 PM (see Final exams) |
Time / room: | |
Mode of instruction: | Online (async) |
Credit: | 4 |
Grade: | Student option |
Instructor: | Saleh, M. (mcs378) |
Max. enroll: | 13 |
Related: | Cross-listed with GOVT 3141 001-LEC |
To enroll: | Enrollment for this class is closed.
See Online Learning FAQs. |
Summer 2023: Online course

Section ID: | AMST 3141 001-LEC |
Number: | 1249 |
Session: | Summer 3-week 1 |
Class dates: | May 30-June 16, 2023 |
Final exam/project due: | Friday June 16, 11:59 PM (see Final exams) |
Time / room: | |
Mode of instruction: | Online (async) |
Credit: | 4 |
Grade: | Student option |
Instructor: | Saleh, M. (mcs378) |
Max. enroll: | 17 |
Related: | Cross-listed with GOVT 3141 001-LEC |
To enroll: | Enrollment for this class is closed.
See Online Learning FAQs. |
- Academics
- Summer Session overview
- Winter Session overview
- Fall & Spring study overview
- Online Learning overview
- Past course rosters
