SOSA 3295

Modern public police organizations have generated fascination and controversy since they emerged in the 19th century. However, ‘policing’ is not only done by ‘the police’, and many institutions are involved in similar forms of social control, legitimized coercion, and the maintenance of a politically-defined public order. This course examines the history of policing, popular and media representations of the police, social theories that seek to understand policing, and social science evidence about how police both prevent and cause harms in society. It focuses on policing in Canada and similar jurisdictions (such as the US and the UK), with international and historical comparisons where relevant.