This will be an 8-10 page paper exploring a current American social movement, elected official
or, memoir dealing with issues related to race and the criminal justice system.
You are to identify a current social movement elected official or, memoir that directly addresses
criminal justice issues that have a racial element to them.
For a social movement, you will then describe the social movement elected official or, memoir
discussing issues such as structure, membership, funding, history, and leadership. Next you will
analyze the social movement in terms of its core demands and goals in relationship to specific
criminal justice practices, their analysis of race, their analysis of miero and macro level causes of
the problems they are confronting, the kinds of actions they engage in, and their basis for
exerting power. Finally, you will critique the group in terms of their analysis of the role of race,
the social forces producing the problem they are concerned with, and how power operates.
For an elected official, you will identify their stated positions on criminal justice policy through
their web page and media statements. You will also need to review their sponsorship of relevant
bills. You will then use concepts derived from the course readings to analyze and critique their
positions on these issues.
For a memoir, you will need to identify their analysis of criminalization processes and potential
responses. Describe how their life circumstances shaped their view on criminal justice policy. Be
sure to discuss their connection to relevant social movements. You should also talk about how
the book has been received by looking at reviews and commentary about the book and its author.
To complete this assignment, you should utilize 3 or more class readings and at least 3 other
academic sources to explore the basis for your analysis and critique.
This paper is due on May 22nd
