University of Guelph
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Sociology 6350: Society, Crime, and Control
(Winter 2026)
Details
Time & Location: Mondays 11:30AM - 02:20PM (TBA)
Instructor: Dr. Patrick Parnaby
Office Hours: TBA
Email: pparnaby@uoguelph.ca
REQUIRED MATERIALS
All readings available via library reserve (ARES). No additional costs.
ASSESSMENT
• General seminar participation – (20%)
• In-class presentation – (15%)
o Includes 7.5% for responses to Patrick’s questions.
• In-person written tests (2 @ 10%)
• Research paper proposal – (15%)
• Research paper – (30%)
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Welcome to SOC/CJPP 6350. This seminar will dive into the complex relationships between
society, crime, and control. We’ll explore key theories of crime (both old and new), discuss
real-world case studies, and think about relevant policy implications. By the end of the
course, you’ll have a deeper understanding of how complex societal factors shape both
crime and measures of social control. Each week students will be expected to contribute
significantly to class discussion and will be encouraged to challenge each other in the spirit
of open inquiry and respectful dialogue. Weekly topics may include:
• Crime and the Alure of Transgression.
• Crime, Capitalism, and Supermax Prisons.
• Anomic Social Systems & Strained Psychologies.
• Labelling, Othering, and the Enemy at the Gates.
• Rational Choice, Situational Crime Prevention, and Architectures of Fear.
• “Lock’em Up”: Deterrence and the Prospects of Crackdowns?
• Missing the (R)evolution: Darwin and the Origins of Crime.
• Criminal “Justice” Reform and the Myth of Human Agency