UPDATE 1/26/2018
We have gotten a room. The room is Hildebrand B56 and class is on Mondays from 5-6:30. Come to class for the CCN.

Through a combination of class presentations by leading activists in the alternative justice movement and direct field monitoring of police on duty, students will experience first hand the complex issues faced by residents caught between high crime in their neighborhoods and the dangers that racial profiling, civil and human rights abuses bring to the community. Students will be trained in basic criminal procedure, power analysis, and techniques for observing police activity. In addition, students will examine the history and origins of police, resistance movements, and community based alternatives to the justice system as we know it.

Student Learning Outcomes

By the end of this semester, students will:

Know and be able to assert their rights when stopped by police.
Be able to identify constitutional police practices and procedures.
Be able to document police misconduct and know how to evaluate a potential case for civil rights violations.
Be able to interact with civil authorities in pursuit of individual complaints and learn how to file Public Records Act requests.
Analyze the causes of police misconduct and recommend possible solutions.

Student requirements

Attendance: Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class. Students may not have more than two unexcused absences in order to pass. Please notify us via email if you think you will need to miss class.

Homework/Readings: Students should come to class having read the assigned reading and prepared to ask questions and discuss related topics.

Copwatch Shifts: Each student is required to participate in five (5) Copwatch shifts. Shifts can be spent Copwatching or participating in office, outreach or other work to contribute to and better understand community organizing. At least (3) street observations; copwatching at protests and rallies count as shifts.

Assignments:
Each student will be required to write two 1-2 page reflections about their experience of observing police, research, case-work, an assigned reading, etc. Due dates are 02/26 & 04/09
Students will be required to write a public records request for information from a public institution (university, police, nonprofits, etc).
Students are expected to stay up-to-date on current events related to policing. Newspapers are a good resource. Students should spend about 1.5 hrs/week reading news. Other resources will be provided in class. We will open each class with a current events discussion.
Final assignment based on students’ individual interests. Project/presentation proposals need to be approved in advance. Video yourself giving a KYR presentation, write a three page paper or demonstrate your understanding of a contemporary issue in policing in some other way (depending on facilitator approval). Due date is 04/23 (our last class)

First come first served. We encourage prospective students to reach out to facilitators to meet before class starts so we can adapt the syllabus and cover what is most relevant for students.