Crime and criminal justice in the United States have evolved over time in response to social conditions, political priorities, economic change, and public attitudes. What is considered a crime, how crime is punished, and how justice is administered have all shifted as society has changed.
To better understand the criminal justice system today, it is important to examine how crime in America developed historically and how responses to crime shaped modern law enforcement, courts, and corrections.
For this discussion, you will watch a short video that provides an overview of the history of crime and criminal justice in the United States and connect it to your textbook reading.
Assigned Video:
History of Crime in America (CrashCourse Criminal Justice)
Assigned Reading:
Schmalleger, Frank (2023). Criminal Justice: A Brief Introduction (13th Edition). Pearson Publishing.
Pages 3 – 5; 23 – 32.
Prompt:
After watching the video and completing the assigned reading, respond to the following questions:
According to the video and textbook, how has crime in the United States changed over time, and what social or historical factors contributed to those changes?
What role did early responses to crime (such as punishment practices or crime control strategies) play in shaping today’s criminal justice system?
Using at least one example from the video or textbook, explain how historical definitions of crime or punishment continue to influence modern criminal justice policies or practices.