lec 6 social control

Lecture Opening and Technical Issues

The lecture commenced with a brief note regarding recording due to technical complications experienced by students. Issues were related to Canvas and Kaltura, which affected students' ability to join smoothly. The instructor reassured attendees about the functionality of certain course components.

Housekeeping Points

Submission Box

  • The submission box for assignments is now open, allowing for submissions. Students were encouraged to check for visibility and report any issues.

  • A grace period for submissions was mentioned, emphasizing that students should submit their best work close to deadlines, but extensions up to the following few days may be granted without penalty.

Final Exam Preview

  • Discussion of the final take-home exam, with the instructor planning to share exam questions and clarify related technicalities in subsequent sessions leading up to the last week of classes.

Bonus Assignment Opportunity

Opioid Symposium Announcement

Event Details

  • Announcement on a bonus mark opportunity related to attendance at an Opioid Symposium scheduled for April 8, 2026, from 09:30 to 16:00.

  • The annual event is organized collaboratively by the instructor, dean, Peter Stooten, and undergraduate students, aimed at addressing the opioid crisis by fostering discussion among students, faculty, and community members.

Purpose of the Symposium

  • Focuses on the evolving opioid crisis and the broader, increasingly toxic drug epidemic affecting various communities across Canada.

  • Designed for interaction among different stakeholders, including students, practitioners, researchers, and policymakers.

Session Themes

  1. Housing and the Drug Crisis (09:45 - 10:45)

  2. Stigma in Substance Abuse (11:00 - 12:00)

  3. Harm Reduction Approaches (13:30 - 14:30)

  4. Future Projections of the Drug Crisis (To be determined)

Encouragement for Student Participation

  • Students are encouraged to participate, with notes that attendance at one session suffices for bonus marks. Registration for any sessions is free and must be done in advance to secure spots due to limited capacity.

  • Reflection assignments following attendance will be submitted to the Dropbox and will explore connections the sessions have with course content, especially topics like drug policy, stigma in the media, legislative history, and social control.

Importance of Reflective Learning

The instructor emphasized the need for connections between course material and real-world applications, with particular focus on topics such as:

  • Drug Policy: Discussions to be reintegrated into class content, as harm reduction is a significant area of debate in both academic and community contexts.

  • Social Constructionism: Historical contexts, media influence, and legislative frameworks will be explored further in relation to this symposium.

Global Context of the Death Penalty as Social Control

Introduction to Capital Punishment

  • Transitioned into discussing the death penalty, noting that while Canada has abolished it, it remains a critical issue globally, particularly in the United States, which executes a notable number of individuals annually.

History of the Death Penalty

  • Historically prevalent across various societies, discussions highlighted contrasting views on abolitionism.

  • Comparative analysis indicates that historical usage raises skepticism over the abolished nature of capital punishment in many jurisdictions.

Patterns of Execution

  • The death penalty has noticeable disparities, with marginalized and economically disadvantaged groups disproportionately affected.

  • Reflected practices indicate social and racial biases, as visible minorities face higher execution rates.

Role of Torture in Evidence Collection

  • Many global systems employ torture to extract confessions leading to death sentences, contrasting the narrative of fair trial practices commonly depicted in media.

  • Examining the influence of torturous practices affirms concerns regarding wrongful convictions, reinforcing strong abolitionist arguments.

Rationale Against Capital Punishment

  • The complexities of wrongful convictions, human rights violations, and the efficacy of capital punishment as a deterrent were debated. Specific arguments against the death penalty include:

    • Ethical considerations: Argue against state-sponsored murder.

    • Human rights: Violation of the right to life and security.

    • Effectiveness: Evidence shows a lack of deterrent effect on crime rates.

    • Potential for irreversible errors in justice leading to wrongful executions.

International Law Perspectives

UN Standards

  • The United Nations asserts that capital punishment should not apply to non-homicidal crimes and underage offenders, emphasizing that it should only be reserved for murder cases.

  • Despite varied global practices, articles of international law leave room for discretion about the legality of executions, complicating the abolitionist agenda.

Exploring Abolition and Retentionism

Types of Countries and Their Approaches

  • Abolitionism: Countries like Canada, Australia, and most of Europe have legally prohibited the death penalty, often influenced by EU mandates.

  • Abolition in Practice: Countries technically retaining the death penalty but refraining from executions (e.g., Russia).

  • Retentionism: Legal executions for ordinary crimes exist in some countries, with varying degrees of application depending on the severity of the crime.

Additional Discussions on the Death Penalty

The United States as a Case Study

  • The US employs capital punishment under specific conditions, often restricted to first-degree murder cases with special aggravating circumstances.

  • Unconventional capital offenses exist, such as espionage and treason, despite a small number being actively executed under these categories due to their operational rarity.

Conclusion and Break

The lecture concluded with further opportunities for students to ask questions or discuss topics regarding their understanding of the death penalty, both globally and within the United States context. A break was announced before a transition to cover the final exam structure and questions.

Note: Future discussions will also integrate the implications of geopolitical contexts following significant events, such as 9/11, in relation to social control mechanisms, war, and the death penalty.