EDM 352 - Disaster and Crime

Understanding how economic, political and social dynamics interact with disaster events to explain crime and victimization during crisis is the focus of this course. While natural or man-made disasters can cause sudden disruption to communities that often result in helping behaviors, there is growing evidence that people may engage in anti-social or criminal behavior during times of disaster as well. A better understanding of why, when, and where criminal behaviors are likely to surface during the disaster life cycle is needed. This course will examine how the different phases of disaster relate to criminal activity in the disaster context, and then examine how the criminal justice system responds to the different types of crime in the wake of disaster.

Prerequisites: EDM 250 or permission of instructor.
Credits: 3