This course will explore the impact of mass shootings on both the criminal justice system and society as a whole. Topics will include (but not be limited to) shifting law enforcement practices, the impact of mass shootings on safety perceptions, security protocols, and how they are framed by the media. More broadly, this course is designed to provide you with a more well-rounded understanding about the phenomenon of public mass shootings, allow you to more critically analyze information presented in the public discourse about these events, and prepare you to better understand these events as they continue to happen.
Prerequisites: CRJ 101 and sophomore standing or instructor permission
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
Describe the cultural impact of the April 20, 1999 shooting at Columbine High School;
Analyze coverage of mass shootings in and by the media;
Summarize key policy changes that arose from the Columbine shooting;
Evaluate solutions proposed in the wake of mass and/or school shootings; and
Critique arguments offered about the causes of mass and/or school shootings