Examines sociological thinking and research on race and crime. General theories of involvement in crime and deviance will be discussed with special attention to issues of youth gangs, to impact of poverty and of racial residential segregation on involvement in crime, and the impact of high rates of incarceration on minority communities. The course will address the tightly interconnected politics of race and crime as well the role the media plays in fostering fear of crime and racial stereotypes. Finally, the course will engage the major public policy questions raised by the now historic high rates of incarceration of minority youth.