Course Details

  • Online, asynchronous
  • 5 weeks | July 13 to August 14, 2026
  • 3 credits | $2,022
  • Last day to register: July 14, 2026

Course Overview

An introduction to the major institutions of criminal justice from a social scientific perspective. Examines the structure and operation of police, courts, and corrections. Theories and concepts of sociology and other disciplines will be used to describe the workings of the criminal justice system and raise questions for critical analysis.

Additional Information 

Faculty will contact all students after the Tuesday, July 14, registration deadline.

About the Instructor

Kathleen Currul-Dykeman

Chair of the Department of Criminology, Director of the Martin Institute of Law & Society
Associate Professor of Criminology Kathleen Currul-Dykeman is an expert on courtroom dynamics. A former prosecutor specializing in domestic violence, she has held the position of Suffolk Superior Court assistant district attorney; supervising assistant district attorney for the Dorchester, MA Domestic Violence Court; and assistant district attorney in Worcester, MA. Prof. Currul-Dykeman combines her knowledge of criminal law with her research interests. Most recently, she has studied how attitudes held by attorneys and judges affect the outcomes of domestic violence cases.

Questions? Contact Us

Duffy Academic Center – 112

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