WGST 3550 Prison Abolition: History, Theory and Practice: Home

1. To put contemporary mass incarceration in historic, political, and cultural context. By the end of this course, students will be able to answer questions such as: what is the relationship between incarceration and enslavement? Why does the US have one of the highest incarceration rates in the world? Do prisons reduce crime? Are prisons rehabilitative?
2. To use Black feminist theory to interrogate the relationship between prisons and race, gender, and class oppression in the US.
3. To understand the contemporary prison abolition movement and learn how to engage in independent social scientific research.
4. To develop a practical understanding of restorative justice, transformative justice, and mediation, which students can begin to use in their own lives to reduce conflict and transform harm.

1. Reading, listening, and watching (20% of final grade) : Students will read assigned course materials, listen to audio lectures, and watch videos covering key concepts in the prison abolition movement.
2. Response papers (25% of final grade): Students will write one, 3-4 page response papers, on any single unit of their choosing, addressing a minimum of two assigned or suggested texts, lectures, or videos for that unit.
   Submit here: http://bit.ly/UnitResponsePapers
3. Temperature checks (25% of final grade): Students will record 2 minute audio clips responding to a question posed at the end
   of each recorded lecture (and included on the syllabus next to the notation “record”).
   Submit here: http://bit.ly/StudentAudio
4. Collaborative final project (30% of final grade): Students will work in small groups and then as an entire class with the professor’s support to produce a zine about prison abolition and transformative justice practices and resources for the Brooklyn College student body.
   Submit here: http://bit.ly/AbolitionZine

Descriptions of all assignments, grading rubrics, and where to submit assignments are located in this Google Drive Folder:
http://bit.ly/AbolitionAssignments

Pre-Recorded Lectures (where it says “listen” in the syllabus) will be posted in this Google Drive Folder:
http://bit.ly/ProfessorLectures

All readings and videos will be posted on our course website at https://libguides.brooklyn.cuny.edu/wgst3550/home

Optional Zoom Discussion Sessions: Students can participate in optional one-hour Zoom-based discussions of course materials and any other topics related to prison abolition.

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Academic dishonesty of any type, including cheating and plagiarism, is unacceptable at Brooklyn College. Cheating is any misrepresentation in academic work. Plagiarism is the representation of another person’s work, words, or ideas as your own. Students should consult the Brooklyn College Student Handbook for a fuller, more specific discussion of related academic integrity standards.

Academic dishonesty is punishable by failure of the “…test, examination, term paper or other assignment on which cheating occurred” (Faculty Council, May 18, 1954).

In addition, disciplinary proceedings in cases of academic dishonesty may result in penalties of admonition, warning, censure, disciplinary probation, restitution, suspension, expulsion, complaint to civil authorities, or ejection (Adopted by Policy Council, May 8, 1991).

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Bereavement Policy:

• Students who experience the death of a loved one must contact the Division of Student Affairs, 2113 Boylan Hall, if they wish to implement either the Standard Bereavement Procedure or the Leave of Absence Bereavement Procedure. The Division of Student Affairs has the right to request a document that verifies the death (e.g., a funeral program or death notice). Contact Email: studentaffairs@brooklyn.cuny.edu
• Typically, this death involves that of a family member, in parallel to the bereavement policy for faculty and staff. However, it is up to the discretion of the Division of Student Affairs to determine if a death outside of the immediate family warrants implementation of the student bereavement policy.
•  As an option, and in consultation with the Division of Student Affairs, students may take the Leave of Absence Bereavement after the Standard Bereavement.
• Reference to the Student Bereavement Policies will be noted on course syllabi.
• Students requesting a religious accommodation should contact the Division of Student Affairs as well. The chief student affairs officer, or a designee, and the student will engage in an interactive process with the goal of finding an acceptable accommodation.

Bereavement Procedure:

• Upon approval from the Division of Student Affairs, the student is allowed one week, commencing from the day of notification to the Division of Student Affairs, of excused absence.
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Leave of Absence Bereavement Procedure:

• Students may be allowed to withdraw from the semester in which the death occurs.
• The Bereavement Leave of Absence is for one semester only.
• Students who have opted to take the Bereavement Leave of Absence and have already attended classes for the semester of the leave will be allowed to re-enter the following semester without having to reapply to the college.
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• Students will consult with the Division of Student Affairs, on a case-by-case basis, as to whether they should withdraw from their courses during this leave of absence or to request incompletes from the faculty member.
•  Given that there may be a potential impact on financial aid, students who receive financial aid and who take the Bereavement Leave of Absence, upon arrangement with the Division of Student Affairs, will meet with a financial aid adviser prior to taking this option.

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