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.

The Brooklyn College Library's electronic resources (e.g. journals, ebooks, databases, etc.) are available to registered students, faculty, and staff when off-campus, including while abroad. If you would like to connect from off-campus you will need to authenticate yourself. Click here to Authenticate yourself now.

For further assistance go to the library's Ask a Librarian page, or use this form. If you want read more on Library Remote Access, .

All CUNY members have free access to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and the Chronicle of Higher Education.

• Use CUNY.edu email to sign up.
• Faculty & staff renew every year.
• Students have access until graduation.
  • renewal requires working CUNY.edu address.  

NY Times: Anyone who initiates an account will have an active subscription for one year from the date she/he creates the account. If you already have an annual subscription to the NYTimes, you can cancel it and will receive a refund. However, if you only have a monthly subscription, the New York Times will not issue a refund for that month.

Newspaper Icons

Items located on the NYTimes site, access with free CUNY account..

Items located on Wall Street Journal site, access with free CUNY account..

• The faculty and administration of Brooklyn College support an environment free from cheating and plagiarism.
• Each student is responsible for being aware of what constitutes cheating and plagiarism and for avoiding both.
• View complete text of CUNY Academic Integrity Policy and Brooklyn College procedure for policy implementation.
• If a faculty member suspects a violation of academic integrity and, upon investigation, confirms that violation, or if the student admits the violation, the faculty member must report the violation.
• Please read the section entitled “Academic Regulations and Procedures” in the Brooklyn College Undergraduate Bulletin or Graduate Bulletin for a complete listing of academic regulations of the College.

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.
• Should the student feel that he/she needs additional days, these should be discussed with individual course instructors and/or the Division of Student Affairs.
• The Division of Student Affairs will contact the student’s faculty and academic staff of the student’s courses.
• Faculty and academic staff will be advised that extensions must be granted to the student for the period of one week of excused absence.
• Further extensions may be negotiated with the student when he or she returns to campus.
• Students are encouraged to discuss options with their instructors.

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.
• Students who wish to take the leave of absence prior to the beginning of the semester will be required to reapply for the following semester.
• Students who are in good academic standing will be given the opportunity to successfully complete the credits for the semester in which they return.
• 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.

• The New York State Education Law provides that no student shall be expelled or refused admission to an institution of higher education because he or she is unable to attend classes or participate in examinations or study or work requirements on any particular day or days because of religious beliefs.
• Students who are unable to attend classes on a particular day or days because of religious beliefs will be excused from any examination or study or work requirements.
• Faculty must make good-faith efforts to provide students absent from class because of religious beliefs equivalent opportunities to make up the work missed; no additional fees may be charged for this consideration.
• If classes, examinations, or study or work requirements occur on Friday after 4 p.m. or on Saturday, similar or makeup classes, examinations, or study or work requirements will be made available on other days, where possible and practical.
• The faculty and the administration will not allow any adverse or prejudicial effects to accrue to students availing themselves of this regulation.
• If students have complaints about the application of this policy, they are entitled to bring action or a proceeding for enforcement of their rights in the Supreme Court of Kings County